ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3 to attempt soft-landing on the moon
India is set to launch Chandrayaan-3, its third moon mission, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh today. The mission aims to land on the moon’s South Pole, where water molecules were previously discovered during India’s first moon mission in 2008. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made several improvements based on lessons learned from the unsuccessful Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. The lander, named Vikram, has been equipped with four engines instead of five, and the software has been updated. The new mission has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it can handle off-nominal conditions and safely land on the moon.
If successful, India will become the fourth nation to achieve a moon landing. The GSLV Mark 3 heavy lift launch vehicle, also known as the Bahubali rocket, will carry the moon lander Vikram. The spacecraft is expected to reach the moon on August 23, following a journey of over 40 days. Once landed, the rover Pragyan will be released to conduct scientific experiments and analyze the lunar soil for a duration of 14 earth days.
Chandrayaan-1, India’s first lunar mission, was launched in 2008 and remained operational until 2009. Despite the challenges faced during Chandrayaan-2, the orbiter continues to orbit the moon and send valuable data. The upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission represents India’s determination to achieve a successful moon landing and further explore the moon’s surface, particularly the South Pole region known for its water presence.
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