Exploring Chandrayaan3-ISRO’s Ambitious Lunar Mission

On July 14, 2023, India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), made a soft landing on the Moon to kick off the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission to study the Moon. The third lunar mission will advance space exploration and innovation by building on the achievements of its forerunners, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2.

On July 14, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 blasts out from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh, perched on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-MK III) heavy-lift rocket, a little under four years after Chandrayaan-2. The mission is a shining illustration of India’s increasing dedication to strengthening its position in the international space community.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, according to ISRO, has three main goals:

demonstrate a gentle and safe landing on the Moon’s surface, run rover operations there, and conduct on-site research there.

When Chandrayaan-2 successfully landed the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover close to the Moon’s South Pole in 2019, it grabbed everyone’s attention. But there were some minor difficulties in the endeavor. While trying to land on the moon, the Vikram lander from Chandrayaan-2 crashed. Despite the incident, it nonetheless represented a major accomplishment in India’s space history.

According to S. Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the mission’s Vikram lander is scheduled to soft-land on the Moon’s South Pole area on August 23 at 5:47 p.m. The lander for the forthcoming expedition has undergone significant improvements, according to Mr. Somanath. This entails giving the lander stronger “legs,” the capacity to endure a faster descent speed, and a switch from five to four engines. We’ve also increased the propellant’s volume, and the solar panels now cover more ground. In addition, new sensors have been added,” he said.

Here you can find in-depth assessments of the historic mission, along with full coverage of the most recent developments and exclusive interviews with ISRO experts.