Self-Instruct
India's space program has made significant strides in recent years, particularly through its Chandrayaan lunar missions. Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2 were highly successful endeavors that provided valuable insights into the Moon's composition and helped to strengthen India's position in the global space exploration community. Now, as anticipation builds around the next lunar mission, Chandrayaan 3, it is important to discern the differences between these various missions and understand how each contributes to our understanding of Earth's closest celestial neighbor.
Chandrayaan 1, launched in October 2008, marked India's first foray into lunar exploration. It was a pioneering effort designed to study the Moon's surface features, mineral composition, and presence of water ice. The spacecraft consisted of an orbiter, a lunar impactor, and two companion spacecraft: the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) and the 29-kg Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3).
One of the key aspects that set Chandrayaan 1 apart was its scientific payload. The Moon Impact Probe made history by becoming the first Indian object to reach the lunar surface. Equipped with various scientific instruments, it helped confirm the presence of water ice on the Moon. M3, on the other hand, was instrumental in mapping the Moon's mineral distribution, revealing new insights into its composition.
Chandrayaan 1's orbiter played a crucial role in the mission, as it carried several scientific instruments that studied the lunar surface in detail. Among these instruments, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) detected ice deposits in permanently shaded craters at the Moon's poles, contributing significantly to our understanding of the Moon's resources.
Unfortunately, Chandrayaan 1 suffered a premature end in August 2009, after losing contact with ground control. However, the mission was deemed a success as it achieved 95% of its objectives before its untimely demise, making it a significant milestone for India's space program.
In contrast, Chandrayaan 2, launched in July 2019, was a more ambitious mission with a comprehensive scientific and technological approach. Comprising of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover, it aimed to further our understanding of the Moon's geology, its evolution, and the presence of water molecules on its surface.
The orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 carried a suite of scientific instruments focused on studying the lunar surface and its exosphere. It provided high-resolution images of the Moon, enhancing our knowledge of its topography and helping to identify potential landing sites for future missions. Additionally, it conducted spectroscopic studies to analyze the composition of the Moon's surface and further ascertain the abundance of water ice.
The lander and the rover, named Vikram and Pragyan, respectively, were designed to make a soft landing near the lunar south pole, an unexplored region rich in scientific potential. Unfortunately, during the descent phase, communication with the lander was lost, and it crash-landed instead of achieving a successful landing. However, the orbiter continued to function, and it provided invaluable data and images of the Moon's surface.
Now, the eagerly awaited Chandrayaan 3 mission, scheduled for a launch in late 2021 or early 2022, is poised to build upon the successes of its predecessors. Chandrayaan 3 will primarily focus on completing the unfinished objectives of Chandrayaan 2, specifically the soft landing and deployment of a rover on the lunar surface.
The Chandrayaan 3 lander and rover will be based on the designs and systems of Chandrayaan 2, with necessary modifications to mitigate the shortcomings encountered last time. Lessons learned from the previous mission will guide the upgrades and improvements in the upcoming one.
The scientific objectives of Chandrayaan 3 largely remain the same as Chandrayaan 2, aiming to conduct thorough scientific investigations of the Moon's surface, subsurface, mineralogy, and the presence of water and ice. By having a successful landing and deploying a rover, Chandrayaan 3 will allow for more extensive exploration and analysis of the lunar region targeted for investigation.
It is worth noting that Chandrayaan 3 is an excellent opportunity for India's space program to showcase its technical prowess and demonstrate its ability to learn from setbacks. The mission holds great promise not only for the scientific community but also for the future of lunar exploration.
In conclusion, the Chandrayaan missions have propelled India's space program into the international spotlight, serving as remarkable achievements in lunar exploration. Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2 have each contributed valuable insights into the Moon's composition, mineral distribution, and the existence of water ice. While Chandrayaan 1 pioneered India's lunar program, Chandrayaan 2 went a step further by attempting a soft landing and deploying a rover. Now, Chandrayaan 3 seeks to build upon these accomplishments, with a focus on achieving the successful landing and extensive exploration with a rover. With each mission, India's space program continues to cement its position as a significant player in the global space exploration community and further our understanding of the Moon, one of the most tantalizing celestial bodies within our reach.