ISRO's Chandrayaan 3 - 2023's Most Imp Space Mission

2023's Most Important Space Mission

India just became the 4th country to soft land on Moon with the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the South Pole of Moon!

Here is everything you need to know about it, literally everything!

This mission in full of courage, innovation and a relentless pursuit for space exploration.

This time its not only about space industry professionals but it's carrying emotions of 1.4 Billion Indians and Moreover, the whole world is looking at it.

Launched on 14th July 2023 from Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India; Chandrayaan 3, India's 3rd lunar mission, will mark beginning of a new chapter in Moon's exploration. 

Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan. The lander will be responsible for soft-landing the mission on the moon, while the rover will be tasked with exploring the lunar surface.

The mission's primary objective is to demonstrate India's capability to soft-land on the moon's south pole. The south pole is a region of the moon that is thought to be rich in water ice, which could be a valuable resource exploration.

The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a major achievement not only for India but for whole world!

OK, but why Chandrayaan-3 is very very important?

Till date there has been 146 Moon Missions which not only includes orbitals, landers and rovers but also Astronauts walking on the Moon's surface. In a total of 6 crew landing missions (Apollo missions (11-17)), 12 astronauts walked on moon; still the Southern Pole of Moon remains unexplored and a mystery to mankind. 

Chandrayaan 3 will not only open the mysteries of South pole but also conduct a number of scientific experiments, including:

• Studying the composition of the lunar surface
• Searching for water ice
• Investigating the moon's history

It will ultimately help us understand EDL (Entry, Descent & Landing) & design more complex missions not only to Moon but also to Mars.

Lets take a deep dive inside Mission! 

Vikram Landing Confirmed !!!!!

Powered Descent starts on 23 Aug 2023 at around 17:45 hrs. IST - Successful

1. Earth Bound Maneuvers

25.07.2023 Earthbound firing-5 236 x 127603

20.07.2023 Earthbound firing-4 233 x 71351

18.07.2023 Earthbound firing-3 228 x 51400

16.07.2023 Earthbound firing-2 226 x 41603

15.07.2023 Earthbound firing-1 173 x 41762

14.07.2023 Launch 170.1x36500*

2. Lunar Orbit Insertion

05.08.2023 LOI Burn 164 x 18074

Trans Lunar Injection

01.08.2023 TLI Burn 288 x 369328

3. Lunar Bound Maneuvers

16.08.2023 Moon bound firing-4 153 x 163

14.08.2023 Moon bound firing-3 150 x 177

09.08.2023 Moon bound firing-2 174 x 1437

06.08.2023 Moon bound firing-1 170 x 4313

4. Vikram Lander Maneuvers

Date         Event Description   Orbit Achieved (km)

23.08.2023 Landing on the Moon  Landing Confirmed

23.08.2023 Descent Start Expected at 1745 hrs IST

20.08.2023 Deboost-2  25 x 134

18.08.2023 Deboost-1 113 x 157

17.08.2023 Separation from Propulsion Module 153 x 163

Livestream Link (Livestream starts 17:20 hrs IST) :) ISRO's Official YouTube

This is exactly how the landing took place! Here's the EDL dia of Chandrayaan 3

Here's Detail Description of important events with dates!

22.08.2023 - The moon as captured by the Lander Imager Camera 4 on August 20, 2023.

22.08.2023 - The mission is on schedule. Systems are undergoing regular checks. Smooth sailing is continuing. The Mission Operations Complex (MOX) is buzzed with energy & excitement! 

21.08.2023 - Ch-2 orbiter formally welcomed Ch-3 LM. Two-way communication between the two is established. MOX has now more routes to reach the LM. Update: Live telecast of Landing event begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST.

21.08.2023 - Ch3 captured Lunar far side area using its Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera (LHDAC). This camera that assists in locating a safe landing area -- without boulders or deep trenches -- during the descent is developed by ISRO at SAC.

20.08.2023 The second and final deboosting operation has successfully reduced the LM orbit to 25 km x 134 km. 

18.08.2023 - LM (Lander Module) successfully underwent a deboosting operation that reduced its orbit to 113 km x 157 km. The second deboosting operation is scheduled for August 20, 2023, around 02:00 Hrs. IST

18.08.2023 - View from the Lander Imager (LI) Camera-1 on August 17, 2023 just after the separation of the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module

17.08.2023 - LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST.

10.08.2023 - Earth viewed by Lander Imager (LI) Camera on the day of the launch & moon imaged by Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera (LHVC) a day after the Lunar Orbit Insertion. LI & LHV cameras are developed by SAC & LEOS, respectively.

09.08.2023 - Chandrayaan-3's orbit is reduced to 174 km x 1437 km following a maneuver performed today. The next operation is scheduled for August 14, 2023, between 11:30 and 12:30 Hrs. IST

06.08.2023 - The spacecraft successfully underwent a planned orbit reduction maneuver. The retrofiring of engines brought it closer to the Moon's surface, now to 170 km x 4313 km.

06.08.2023 - The Moon, as viewed by Chandrayaan-3 during Lunar Orbit Insertion

05.08.2023 - Chandrayaan-3 has been successfully inserted into the lunar orbit. A retro-burning at the Perilune was commanded from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), ISTRAC, Bengaluru. 

04.08.2023 - The spacecraft has covered about two-thirds of the distance to the moon. Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI) set for Aug 5, 2023, around 19:00 Hrs. IST.

01.08.2023 - Today’s perigee burn has successfully raised Chandrayaan-3 orbit to 288 km x 369328 km. In this orbit, the spacecraft enters the moon’s sphere of influence. A crucial maneuver at perilune would achieve the Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI).

01.08.2023 - Chandrayaan-3 completes its orbits around the Earth and heads towards the Moon. A successful perigee-firing performed at ISTRAC, ISRO has injected the spacecraft into the translunar orbit. As it arrives at the moon, the Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) is planned for Aug 5, 2023.

25.07.2023 - The 5th orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully. The spacecraft is expected to attain an orbit of 127609 km x 236 km. 

20.07.2023 - The fourth orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully. Orbit attained 233 x 71351 km. 

18.07.2023 - The third orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully. Orbit attained 228 x 51400 km.

17.07.2023 - Second orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound apogee firing) is performed successfully. Spacecraft is now in 41603 km x 226 km orbit.

15.07.2023 - First orbit-raising maneuver successfully performed. Spacecraft in 41762x173 km orbit.

14.07.2023 - LVM3-M4 successfully launches Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft into Earth orbit.

Few other details =)

Landing Site: 69.367621 S, 32.348126 E (4 km x 2.4 km)

Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module

• Mass : 2145.01 kg (wet) / 448.62 kg
• Power: 758 W
• Propulsion: 440N Liquid Apogee Motor with 8×22N thrusters (MMH/MON3)
• Platform : Modified I-3K bus
• Mission life: 3 to 6 months

Payload:

• SHAPE (Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth)

"The propulsion module serves as the transport for the lander and rover setup to reach the 100 km lunar orbit. It features a box-shaped design with a prominent solar panel affixed to one side, along with a sizable cylinder called the Intermodular Adapter Cone positioned on top. This cylinder functions as a sturdy foundation for attaching the lander to the module."

Vikram Lander

• Mass (with rover): 1749.86 kg (wet)
• Power: 738 W
• Propulsion: 4×800N bi-propellant(MMH/MON3) throttleable engines with 8×58N thrusters
• Mission life: 14 Earth days (1 Lunar day)

Sensors:

• Laser Inertial Referencing and Accelerometer Package (LIRAP)
• Ka-Band Altimeter (KaRA)
• Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC)
• LHDAC (Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera)
• Laser Altimeter (LASA)
• Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV)
• Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera (LHVC)
• Micro Star sensor
• Inclinometer & Touchdown sensors

Payloads:

• RAMBHA-LP (Langmuir Probe)
• ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermo-physical Experiment) by SPL
• ILSA (Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity) by LEOS
• LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array ) by NASA-GSFC / MIT

"The Chandrayaan-3 moon lander features a box-like structure with landing legs and four throttle-able engines equipped with thrust valve slew rate changing capabilities. Unlike its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, which had five engines, this lander's design enables more precise control during descent. Notably, it can adjust its position more rapidly, with an attitude correction range increased from 10 degrees per second in Chandrayaan-2 to 25 degrees per second. Additionally, the lander incorporates a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) for measuring its attitude in three directions. The landing legs have been strengthened, instrument redundancy enhanced, and it's set to touch down in a more accurate 4 km by 4 km landing zone based on past imagery. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has bolstered the lander's structural rigidity, data transmission frequency, and contingency systems, ensuring its robustness even in the face of potential landing challenges. Numerous software simulations have been conducted to prepare the lander for various scenarios, building upon lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2."

Lander Touchdown Specifications:

Vertical velocity: ≤ 2 m / sec

Horizontal velocity: ≤ 0.5 m / sec

Slope:  ≤ 12 deg

'Pragyaan' Rover:

• Mass: 26 kg
• Power: 50 W
• Mission life: 14 Earth days

Payloads:

• APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer) by PRL
• LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope) by LEOS

The Rover's Wheels has the coolest design this time, as it prints ISRO's logo along with India's Ashoka Pillar on the Lunar surface as it moves forward. Have a look here, how cool is that!?

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Important 

On 21st August we got an update from ISRO SAC's (Space Application Center) Director Dr. Nilesh Desai Sir that the Mission Control will verify landing conditions 2 hrs. before the scheduled landing time; if there's any problem that the code detect the earliest next landing attempt on the Lunar South Pole will be 27th August.

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Few words from ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somnath

"If everything fails, if all the sensors fail, nothing works, still it (Vikram) will make a landing. That's how it has been designed - provided that the propulsion system works well. We have also made sure that if 2 of the engines (in Vikram) don't work this time also, it will still be able to land."

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Additionally as ISRO's Chandrayaan 3 is super duper important mission in terms of exploring the Lunar South Pole; NASA & EAS has extended their hands to help ISRO will telecommunication throughout landing with their orbitals in the Lunar orbit. How cool is that! Space really helps bring up international relations.

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This mission is definitely going to be written with golden letters in the history of Lunar Exploration journey of Humans.

As Chandrayaan 3 is on its way to create history, and I being very nervous and excited at the same time, Its just a great time to live in !!! 

Hats off to everyone involved for making this possible! 

"I reached my destination & you too" Chandrayaan 3 to MOX.

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