India’s Chandrayaan-3 Mission To The Lunar South Pole

Source: The Hindu

• India is set to launch its third lunar mission, Chandrayaan 3, on July 14. The mission will attempt to soft-land a spacecraft near the moon’s South Pole, which is a scientifically interesting region due to the presence of towering massifs and permanently shadowed craters that may contain volatile compounds and water-ice deposits.
• The South Pole is also a valuable resource for future exploration and astrobiology investigations. Volatile deposits at the South Pole could serve as a valuable resource for future exploration and astrobiology investigations. Some mountain peaks near the pole receive extended periods of sunlight, making them potential sites for continuous solar power supply. Craters at the South Pole may also contain a fossil record of the early Solar System, providing valuable scientific data.
• Chandrayaan 3 will follow a trajectory similar to Chandrayaan 2, utilizing a propulsion module to orbit Earth before heading to the moon. Once within the moon’s gravitational pull, the module will lower itself to a 100 x 100 km circular orbit. The lander will then detach and descend to the lunar surface.
• The lander, named Vikram, will deploy four scientific payloads to study the moon’s surface temperature and subterranean characteristics. The rover, named Pragyan, will conduct chemical and visual tests as it roves around the lunar surface.
• The objectives of Chandrayaan 3 are to demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, showcase the capability of the rover to traverse the lunar surface, and conduct in-situ scientific experiments on the moon.
• Chandrayaan 3 is India’s third lunar mission and the second attempt at a soft landing on the moon. The mission’s success will contribute to scientific advancements and further our understanding of the lunar surface. As space agencies around the world plan future lunar missions, humanity’s return to the moon seems imminent after more than five decades.

Key takeaways:

• Chandrayaan 3 is India’s third lunar mission and the second attempt at a soft landing on the moon.
• The mission will target the lunar South Pole, which is a scientifically interesting region due to the presence of towering massifs and permanently shadowed craters that may contain volatile compounds and water-ice deposits.
• The mission will deploy a lander and rover to conduct scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
• The mission’s success will contribute to scientific advancements and further our understanding of the lunar surface.