India Aims for the Moon: The Exhilarating Countdown to Chandrayaan-3’s Landing
India’s lunar dreams are nearing fruition as its ambitious Chandrayaan-3 mission enters the final phase of its journey. The entire nation waits with bated breath for the scheduled landing on August 23rd, a historic event that will cement India’s place among the elite club of nations that have mastered this complex technological feat.
Chandrayaan-3 represents a significant milestone not just for ISRO but for India’s scientific community. It signals the country’s prowess in space exploration and its determination to push the boundaries of human knowledge. As the hours wind down to the landing, here is a comprehensive look at Chandrayaan-3’s thrilling journey so far and what to expect when its lander, Vikram, finally touches down on the lunar south pole.
The Mission So Far – A Story of Triumph Over Adversity
Chandrayaan-3 has faced its fair share of challenges, but the mission team has navigated them admirably. The mission is a follow-up to Chandrayaan-2, which attempted a soft landing in 2019. Although its orbiter remains functional, the lander lost communication in the final descent stage.
Chandrayaan-3 launched on July 14, 2022, exactly a year after its predecessor. It completed five tricky orbital maneuvers around the Moon before separating into its Orbiter and Lander modules on August 17th. Two days later, the Lander Module successfully carried out the all-important deboosting operation, lowering its orbit to just 100 km from the lunar surface.
Also Read: India’s Lunar Dreams – Meet The Leaders Inside Chandrayaan 3
With these obstacles cleared, Chandrayaan-3 is now ready for the most critical and complex phase of its journey – the controlled, vertical descent and soft landing.
The Big Moment – Pinpoint Landing on the South Pole
What is the exact landing time for Chandrayaan-3?
ISRO has scheduled the touchdown on the lunar surface for August 23rd at around 6:04 pm IST, with a landing window between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
Where will Chandrayaan-3 land on the Moon?
Chandrayaan-3 is slated to land in the challenging lunar south pole region, an area that remains largely unexplored. The south pole presents unique lighting conditions, extreme temperatures, and uneven, rugged terrain – factors that demand precise navigation and control throughout the landing sequence.
If successful, Chandrayaan-3 will be the first mission to soft-land in the Moon’s south polar area. Its data will offer insights into the composition, topography, and other properties of this mysterious region.
Managing the High-Stakes Finale – What Could Go Wrong?
Touchdown day is fraught with risks, given the intricacies of lunar landing. Chandrayaan-3 essentially has one shot to ace this complex maneuver.
How is ISRO planning to avoid Chandrayaan-2’s fate?
Having reviewed the telemetry from the previous mission, ISRO has implemented several design tweaks to maximize the probability of success. The lander has been equipped with upgraded sensors, enhanced navigation capabilities, and four landing legs compared to Chandrayaan-2’s three.
The throttling capability of the main engine has been improved to provide better control during vertical descent. The overall system design has more redundancy built-in to increase reliability.
Can adverse conditions delay the landing?
Yes, ISRO has kept August 27th as a backup date if the environment is deemed unfavorable on the 23rd. Parameters like lunar surface features, trajectory, velocity, health of spacecraft systems, etc. will be assessed a few hours before the scheduled landing. Only if all parameters are optimal will ISRO give the green light to proceed.
What will lead to a crash landing?
According to ISRO, the lander’s high horizontal velocity of 1.68 km/s at 30 km altitude is the biggest challenge. Reducing this speed against lunar gravity while transitioning to a vertical orientation is the trickiest part. Insufficient deceleration or loss of control during this phase could result in a crash.
Chandrayaan 3 Current Location Status
Chandrayaan-3’s lander module is currently orbiting very close to the lunar surface as it prepares for the scheduled soft landing on August 23.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
‘Welcome, buddy!’
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.#Chandrayaan_3 #Ch3— ISRO (@isro) August 21, 2023
According to the latest update from ISRO, the lander is now at an altitude of only 25 km from the Moon’s surface as of August 21.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 19, 2023
The second and final deboosting operation has successfully reduced the LM orbit to 25 km x 134 km.
The module would undergo internal checks and await the sun-rise at the designated landing site.
The powered descent is expected to commence on August… pic.twitter.com/7ygrlW8GQ5
Over the past few days, the lander module has been steadily lowering its orbit through a series of complex orbital maneuvers. It has successfully completed the deboosting operation needed to bring it close to the landing site.
The lander is flying over the little-explored south polar region of the Moon, where no previous mission has soft-landed before.
Also Read: Who is inside India’s Moon Craft Chandrayaan 3?
If the final descent and touchdown goes as planned on August 23, India will become only the fourth nation to successfully accomplish a soft landing on the Moon after the US, Russia and China.
The entire country awaits this historic event and Chandrayaan-3’s lander is now tantalizingly close to its destination after over a month’s journey from Earth. ISRO is keeping a close watch on all systems as the D-day approaches.
The Supporting Cast – Other Agencies Pitch In
India’s scientific community has come together in support of this mission. Ahmadabad’s Space Applications Center developed key technologies like the landing camera. The U R Rao Satellite Center, Bengaluru handled the spacecraft assembly and testing.
NASA and ESA are providing communication support via their deep space antennas. The entire world is invested in Chandrayaan-3’s success as its findings will enrich planetary science globally.
Legacy of the Moon Missions – Why We Must Return
Chandrayaan-3 caps off ISRO’s successful Chandrayaan program that started in 2008 with Chandrayaan-1. These missions have answered key questions about lunar geology while generating new ones that warrant further investigation.
Some reasons we need sustained presence around the Moon:
- Explore the possibilities for mining and lunar habitation.
- Better understand solar-terrestrial interactions and protect Earth assets.
- Uncover secrets about the origins of the Earth-Moon system.
- Inspire young minds and advance India’s technological capabilities.
Final Descent – What to Expect When Vikram Meets the Lunar Surface
How will the landing sequence unfold?
In the make-or-break landing phase, Vikram will autonomously guide itself through a series of carefully coordinated actions:
- Rough braking from 30 km to 7.4 km altitude.
- Fine braking from 7.4 km to about 2 km altitude.
- Constant velocity phase up to 400 m above surface.
- Vertical descent – speed reduced to near zero for soft touchdown.
Constant trajectory corrections and throttle adjustments will be made, using data from Lander cameras and sensors.
Also Read: How Many Planets are in Retrograde Right Now in 2023?
What happens after landing?
Once Vikram settles on the lunar terrain, the mission’s scientific explorations can begin. The Pragyan rover will emerge and spend 1 lunar day (14 Earth days) studying rock composition and other surface features. The Vikram lander will measure lunar quakes and temperature variations.
All instruments must complete their observations within this duration since the systems are not designed to withstand the frigid lunar night.
Final Word
Regardless of the outcome, Chandrayaan-3 has already expanded ISRO’s capabilities and inspired millions. But one can’t help rooting for a perfect landing that validates India’s technological prowess on the global stage. As the appointed hour approaches, nervous excitement grips the nation. Whether history is made or deferred, the indomitable human quest for knowledge persists. The next moonshot lies just over the horizon.
To summarize, Chandrayaan-3 is slated for a soft landing around 6 pm IST on August 23rd or 27th in the Moon’s south pole region. Its descent and landing involve major complex maneuvers that are prone to uncertainty. ISRO has enhanced the lander design and systems based on lessons from Chandrayaan-2. The mission has key scientific goals related to studying lunar geology, but also immense symbolic value for India’s space program. As ISRO’s scientists make the final preparations, anxious citizens watch and pray for a picture-perfect landing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When is Chandrayaan-3 scheduled to land on the moon?
Chandrayaan 3 is scheduled to soft land on the moon on August 23, 2022 around 6:04 pm IST.
2. Where will Chandrayaan 3 land on the moon?
Chandrayaan 3 will attempt landing near the lunar south pole region, which remains largely unexplored.
3. What happens if the landing is not possible on August 23?
ISRO has kept August 27 as a backup date for landing if conditions are not favorable on August 23.
4. How can I watch the Chandrayaan-3 landing live?
The live streaming of the landing will start on ISRO’s website, YouTube, Facebook page and DD National TV channel starting 5:20 pm IST on August 23.
5. How long will the lander and rover operate on the moon?
The mission lifespan is 1 lunar day, which is equal to 14 Earth days. The lander and rover are not designed to withstand the lunar night.
6. What new technologies are being tested on Chandrayaan 3?
Chandrayaan-3 will test capabilities like autonomous navigation, hazard avoidance during landing, precise landing system, and deploying a rover.