INTRODUCTION

1. Mission Overview:

• Objective: Chandrayaan-3 aims to continue India's exploration of the Moon, focusing on

enhancing scientific understanding and capabilities.
• Timeline: The exact launch date may vary, but the mission is planned for the near future.

2. Mission Components:

• Orbiter: Chandrayaan-3 is likely to include an orbiter to orbit the Moon, like its
predecessors (Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2).
• Lander and Rover: Like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 is expected to have a lander
and rover to explore the lunar surface. These components will carry scientific instruments
to conduct experiments.

3. Scientific Instruments:

• The mission is expected to carry various scientific instruments to study the Moon's
surface, composition, and atmosphere.
• Instruments may include spectrometers, cameras, and other sensors to collect data for
scientific analysis.
4. Mission Goals:

• Chandrayaan-3 will focus on specific scientific goals, such as studying lunar geology,
mineral composition, and searching for water ice on the Moon's surface.
• It may also aim to conduct experiments that enhance our understanding of the Moon's
evolution.

5. Previous Chandraayan Missions:

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): India's first lunar probe, which made significant discoveries,
including evidence of water molecules on the lunar surface.
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Consisted of an orbiter, lander (Vikram), and rover (Pragyan).
While the lander lost communication during the descent, the orbiter continues to function
and collect valuable data.

6. International Collaboration:

• ISRO may collaborate with international space agencies or institutions for specific
aspects of Chandrayaan-3.

7. Prospects:

• Chandrayaan-3 is part of India's broader space exploration program, which includes plans
for further lunar exploration, interplanetary missions, and human spaceflight.

Objectives of Chandrayaan 3 mission

Mission Architecture
• Chandrayaan-3 is likely to adopt a similar architecture to Chandrayaan-2, comprising an
orbiter, lander, and rover. The orbiter will continue to operate from lunar orbit, while the
lander and rover will explore the lunar surface.

2. Scientific Instruments:

• The mission is expected to carry a suite of scientific instruments to study various aspects
of the Moon. These might include:
o Spectrometers: To analyze the composition of the lunar surface.
 o Cameras: To capture high-resolution images and panoramas of the Moon's
surface.
o Seismic and Thermal Sensors: To gather data on the Moon's internal structure
and temperature variations.
o Analytical Tools: To study the lunar regolith (surface material) and conduct
experiments

3. Lander and Rover:

• The lander and rover components are crucial for in-situ exploration of the Moon. The
rover is expected to carry scientific instruments to analyze the lunar soil and rocks,
providing valuable data for scientific research.

4. Launch Vehicle:

• ISRO would use a suitable launch vehicle, likely the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) or Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III),
 to carry Chandrayaan-3 into space.

5. Exploration Goals:

• Chandrayaan-3 is anticipated to build upon the achievements and lessons learned from
Chandrayaan-2. It will likely focus on specific exploration goals, such as studying lunar
topography, surface mineralogy, and searching for resources like water ice.

6. International Collaboration:

• ISRO has a history of collaborating with international space agencies and institutions.
Chandrayaan-3 may involve collaboration with other countries for specific instruments,
technology, or data sharing.

7. Advancements Over Previous Missions:

 • Chandrayaan-3 is expected to incorporate improvements based on the experiences and
challenges faced during Chandrayaan-2. These may include enhanced communication
systems, better navigation, and improvements in landing and rover operations.

Scientific risks involved in mission

1. Qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis & To derive the chemical Composition and
infer mineralogical composition to further our understanding of Lunar-surface.
2. To determine the elemental composition (Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca,Ti, Fe) of Lunar soil and rocks
around the lunar landing site.
Two of the three objectives of India’s third lunar exploration mission – safe and soft landing, and
rover movement on the lunar surface – have been accomplished, the Indian Space Research
Organisation (Isro) noted on Saturday. The third objective – carrying out scientific experiments
that could significantly advance learnings on the Moon’s unexplored polar regions – is also on
course for realisation.

Potential benefits and contributions to space exploration

• Beyond the realm of space exploration, the technological advancements born

from Chandrayaan-3’s endeavors hold broader economic implications.
Innovations developed for the mission can be applied to terrestrial industries,
enhancing processes and products across various sectors.
• The primary objective was to successfuly achieve a soft landing on the
Moon’s surface, particularly focusing on the South Polar Region, which
holds crucial scientific interest due to the presence of water and ice.
• Beyond its scientific goals, Chandrayaan-3 holds substantial economic
implications.Lunar exploration has the potential to unlock valuable resources
such as water and ice, which could be converted into water and breathable
oxygen, serving as essential resources for future human space activities.
• Additionally, the data and insights gained from Chandrayaan-3 could spark
innovation and technological advancements across various sectors,
 contributing to India’s economic growth and competitiveness in the global
space industry.
Chandrayaan-3 stands as a symbol of India’s determination to explore space in
exciting new ways, joining hands with other countries, and growing its own
science and technology skills.
• As the mission moves forward, it’s not just about India becoming a
recognized name in space exploration. It’s also about opening doors to
possible benefits for the economy by using space resources and making
really new technologies that can help researchers around the globe.
• Chandrayaan-3’s economic benefits lie in its capacity to provide crucial data
for resource management, technological innovation, and international
collaboration.
• By delivering detailed insights into the Moon’s surface composition and
resource distribution, the mission offers the opportunity to strategically plan
future space activities.
• This data-driven approach can lead to cost-effective resource extraction,
minimizing expenses while maximizing returns.
• Such targeted resource management holds the promise of a significant
economic advantage as humanity seeks to connect space resources.
One of the significant economic possibilities created by Chandrayaan-3’s data is its
commercial potential. The information collected by the mission’s sophisticated
instruments can be a sought-after commodity for industries requiring accurate and
real-time space-related data. This demand could open up revenue streams from
businesses involved in satellite communication, Earth observation, and beyond.

Why Chandrayaan-3 is delayed?

Nilesh Desai, Director of Space Applications Centre, said that the delay was necessary in order
to ensure the safety of the spacecraft. He said that the ISRO is still conducting tests and
simulations to ensure that the reactivation procedure will be successful.
History behind Chandrayaan-1
• India’s Ambitious lunar Mission On 22nd October 2008, the Chandrayaan 1
Mission was launched by India.Chandrayaan-1, India’s first mission to
Moon, was launched successfully from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The
spacecraft was orbiting around the Moon at a height of 100 km from the
lunar surface for chemical, mineralogical and photo-geologic mapping of the
Moon. This spacecraft reached the Moon and found something that was a
headline all over the world. Water on the Moon. For the first time, it brought
strong evidence that there is water on the Moon. Specifically speaking, it is
present in the South Pole area of the Moon.
• After this news, in countries all over the world, the craze to explore the
Moon renewed. Missions are sent regularly by the USA and China to the
Moon. Israel tried to do a soft landing on the Moon. Besides this, many lunar
missions were planned by Japan, Europe, and Russia. But today, the world is
watching India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• Which new discovery will be made by Chandrayaan-3? And why did
mission fail? “India is on its way back to the Moon.” “The historic mission
to the moon and the launch of India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.” “India is
already shooting for the Moon.”

Who invented Chandrayaan-3?

The Chairman of the elite space research agency, Somanath is an accomplished
aerospace engineer. He has been the Chairman of ISRO since 2022. He played a
pivotal role in crafting the design of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, or the Bahubali
rocket, which launched Chandrayaan-3 into orbit.
Types of moon mission
• Chandrayaan 3 mission aims to touchdown On the Moon’s largely
unexplored South Pole.” Moon missions the missions that are sent to the
Moon, can be of 5-6 different types. In the 1950s, humans started sending
missions to the moon. And since then, as technology has improved, the
complexity of these missions has also increased. The first and the simplest
type of mission is a fly-by mission. In this, a spacecraft is sent the space,
which passes by the Moon.
• It doesn’t orbit around the moon, but merely flies by the moon and leaves.
The first successful fly-by mission was launched by the Soviet Union in
January 1959, when their spacecraft Luna-1 passed by the moon. Two
months after this, America launched its first successful fly-by mission in
March 1959, which was called Pioneer-4. Their aim was to study the Moon
from a distance. In October 1959, when the Soviet Union launched Luna-3,
we got to see a closeup photo of the Moon for the first time. Which we
normally never see from the Earth. Today, fly-by missions are done only
 when the Moon is on the way to

• some other mission. But if the Moon is to be specially examined, then the
next category of missions are deployed, the Orbiter missions. In this, the
spacecraft get close to the Moon And orbit around the moon.
This is called Lunar Orbit. And from there, they study Moon’s surface and
atmosphere. Till date, more than 40 successful Orbiter missions have been
conducted. And this is still the most common type of Moon mission. The first
successful orbiter mission was once again conducted by The Soviet Union, Luna-
10, in the year 1966. After this, comes the next category of Impact Mission.

• These missions are an extension of the Orbiter Missions. Here, the main
spacecraft continues orbiting around the Moon but a part of the spacecraft
gets detached and crash lands on the Moon. Because it is ‘impacting’ with
the moon during the crash landing, these missions are called Impact
Missions. You may ask what is the use of crash landing? The answer Is very
simple. The time it takes to crash land, while it is getting closer to the
moon’s surface, many instrument readings can be taken at that time. That is
why impact missions are also very useful. Our Chandrayaan-1 was an
 Impact Mission. The part that is separated from the spacecraft and crash
lands on the moon is called the Moon Impact Probe. The Moon Impact
Probe of Chandrayaan-1 was equipped with an instrument called Chandra’s
Altitudinal Composition Explorer.
• In short, it was called CHACE. It was a mass spectrometer that kept taking
readings every 4 seconds while it was getting close to the surface for the
crash land. And with the help of this instrument, we came to know that there
is water in the atmosphere of the moon. This Moon Impact Probe crashed
into the Shackleton crater. This crater on the Moon was chosen and the point
of impact was named Jawahar Point. Chandrayaan-1 also had an orbiter
which was carrying out its orbiter mission independently. Obviously, the
Moon Impact Probe cannot be launched without an orbiter. NASA’s
instrument was installed in this orbiter.
• Moon Mineralogy Mapper M3. When the Moon Impact Probe crashed and
landed on the moon, some of the soil on the moon’s surface flew up. This
instrument analyzed the lunar soil. And after this analysis, it was confirmed
that there is water in Moon’s soil. The fourth category of Moon Missions Is
the Lander Missions. Here a part of the spacecraft is sent to the Moon for a
soft landing. No crashing. It has to land softly so that that part of the
spacecraft can land on the Moon. The part that lands is usually called a
Lander.
• Doing this is Insanely complicated. And when the US and the Soviet Union
tried this for the first time, they failed in the first 15 attempts. 15 attempts is
significant. In 1966, the first successful attempt was made by the Soviet
Union, once again, In their Luna-9 mission. This was the world’s first
successful landing on the moon, and this spacecraft also took the first photo
of the moon’s surface. This is from 1966.
Usually, these landers are very bulky. They are very heavy and big. So, they land
on the Moon and stop there. They don’t move around after that. If you want to
move to the Moon, to solve this problem, there’s the next category of Moon
missions the Rover Missions.
 • Rovers are these small robots which have wheels attached on them so that
they can move out of the lander and move around on the surface. With the
help of rovers, direct contact can be established on the surface of the moon.
The first successful rover was sent to the moon in November 1970. And can
you guess which country it was? Once again, the Soviet Union.
• After this, the last category of Moon Missions is Human Missions. Where
humans are put in landers and landed on the moon and instead of a rover,
humans use their feet to step on moon’s surface. This was something that
America did before the Soviet Union. In 1969, When Neil Armstrong first
stepped on the moon. NASA sent the last Human Moon Mission in 1972.
• Since then, no one has stepped on the moon. And in total, only 12 people
have set foot on the moon. All of them were from NASA. You might be
wondering,
How was the first rover mission done after the first human mission?
This is because a soft landing was enough for a human mission. But for a rover
mission, a new technology was needed to develop a rover. And this was done a
year after Neil Armstrong’s historic first steps on the Moon.

Failure behind chandrayaan 2 mission

The Chandrayaan-2 mission was planned as a Rover Mission. Had the mission
gone as per plan, Vikram Lander was set for a soft landing on the moon carrying
inside a rover named Pragyan which would have stepped out on the moon. But
unfortunately, this did not happen.
• On 6th September 2019, when Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram lander was
preparing for a soft landing, it suddenly crashed land. According to the
Failure Committee Report released in November 2019, this accident was
caused by a software glitch. But ISRO never made this report public. ISRO
was criticized for this as well because ISRO was highly transparent till that
point in time.
• It revealed everything to the public. When it was successful, when it was
not, and why. For many months ISRO claimed that the lander was intact,
hadn’t broken. That it was merely lying tilted on the moon’s surface.
• But finally, when the pressure increased, on 1st January 2020,

• ISRO’s chief admitted that the lander had actually crashed and was
destroyed. The screens at ISRO’s Mission Control Centre showed that when
Vikram Lander was descending, it got off from its path when it was about 2
km above the surface. And when it was about 335 meters above the surface,
ISRO lost contact. According to the plan, till Vikram reached 400 meters
above the surface, it had to lose almost all the velocity. But even at a height
of 1 km, Vikram’s vertical velocity was 212 kmph and horizontal velocity
was 173 kmph. ISRO’s current Chief, S Somanath, says that the problem
was in Vikram’s engine. Out of the 5 engines, one had a little more thrust
which made Vikram unstable.
• Actually, Vikram had to take photos to decide The actual landing spot. But it
could never be stable enough to take photos. When it tried to correct its
direction, it started spinning due to the misalignment of the thrusters. There
was a limit on Vikram’s software on how fast it could spin. All these
problems accumulated and ultimately Vikram crash landed because of these.
That’s all we know for now.
• Now if we talk about Chandrayaan-3, it was launched to fulfil the same
objective that Chandrayaan-2 could not fulfil. To minimize the risk of
mistakes, a lot of modifications have been made. First, the landing area has
been enlarged. While Chandrayaan-2 had to land in a patch of 500m x 500m,
this time Chandraayan 3 can land anywhere in a 4km x 2.4km area. This is
almost 40 times bigger than the last time. Secondly, Vikram Lander in
Chandrayaan-3 is carrying more fuel so that it can stay above the surface for
a longer time and find the right landing site.
• Thirdly, there have been software upgrades so that Vikram can spin faster if
needed. And fourthly, this time Vikram will not have to be dependent only
on photos to land this time. The Chandrayaan-2 mission is considered to be
half successful.
• Partially successful Chandrayaan-2 is still working. In fact, it is orbiting the
Moon to this day. The high-resolution images taken by the Chandrayaan-2
orbiter have been fed to this new Vikram so that the landing locations can be
decided correctly.
• And the design of Vikram Lander in Chandraayan 3 is more or less the same
as Chandraayan 2 but a few modifications have been done. Like the legs
have been made stronger. More solar cells have been installed on it and the
sensors have been improved. Like Chandrayaan-2, the mission objective of
Chandraayan 3 is the same. Landing on the south pole of the moon and
placing a rover. Now the landing site is 70° south, with a large number of
craters. That are always in the shade. Sunlight doesn’t reach there. And that
is why it is believed that in those craters there could be traces of ice. Here, it
is important to mention that when the rover will be placed on the moon by
 Chandrayaan-3, it will get only one lunar day to conduct

• its scientific experiments. One lunar day is about one month on Earth. It is
like two weeks of day and 2 weeks of night. So, when it is time to land on
the moon is expected to be around 23rd and 24th of August for it to land on
the moon and from then, the rover will get only 14 days to gather all the
information, because the instruments present in Chandrayaan-3 are not made
to withstand lunar nights When it is night on the moon, the temperature
drops a lot.
• The temperature can drop to -232°C. No instruments will work in this cold.
That’s why the ISRO Chief has said that they want the landing to be when
the sun is rising on the moon. From then on, we will get 14-15 days to work.
If it cannot land around 23rd -24th August, they will wait for another month
and land it in September. Coming to the instruments, Vikram Lander weighs
1,750 kg and the rover weighs 26 kg. The name of the rover is again
Pragyan. In total, there are 3 modules in Chandrayaan-3. The Lander
Module, the Rover Module, and the Propulsion Module.
• The purpose of the Propulsion Module is to take Chandraayan out of the
Earth’s orbit and send it towards the Moon. With the help of this propulsion
module, the lander and rover will first get into the Moon’s orbit and when
they reach the 100 km radius, they will be dropped for landing. There is no
orbiter module in this mission because Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter is still
 working and it will be used again. But the propulsion module will also keep
circling the moon for 3-6 months. It will remain in Moon’s orbit.
It will also be used for communication purposes and for taking other readings. An
instrument is placed on this propulsion module is Spectro-Polarimetry of Habitable
Planet Earth Its short form is SHAPE. It will search for small exoplanets in space.
If we talk about the instruments on the Vikram Lander and Pragyan rover, they are
very interesting. Pragyan has two instruments- LIBS and APXS. LIBS stands for
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope. It will analyze the chemical composition
of the Moon’s soil. Which minerals are found in Moon’s soil? And second, the
full-form of APXS is Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer. It will do the same for
the stones on the Moon. When Pragyan will do these, Vikram Lander will be
taking its photos.

Why is Chandrayaan-3 important?

India launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon because it wants to learn
more about our mysterious neighbor in the sky. Imagine the Moon as a big, rocky
playground in outer space, and we Earthlings want to discover all its secrets.
Instruments used in vikram lander

• Vikram Lander has four instruments on it. The first is RAMBHA. Its full
form is Radio Anatomy of Moon-bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and
Atmosphere. It will try to melt some small stones on the moon through a
laser beam. And it will analyze the gas released from it.
• The second is Chaste. The full form is Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical
Experiment. It will measure the thermal properties. The temperature at the
South Pole of the Moon.
• The third is Ilsa. The Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity. It will measure
the number of earthquakes on the Moon. Those won’t be called earthquakes,
rather Moonquakes. This will help us understand the crust and mantle
structure of the moon.
• The fourth instrument is from NASA the LRA, Laser Retroreflector Array. It
will there are already 5 other such retroreflectors on the Moon. So we will be
able to find the exact distances on the Moon.
• So including the instruments on the propulsion module, there are 7
instruments in total on Chandrayaan-3. These 7 instruments can also be
called 7 Payloads. The word Payload is often used for them. But apart from
scientific experiments, there is the component of pride too. If this mission is
successful, it will be a great victory for India. India will become the 4th
country after the Soviet Union, America and China to do a soft landing on
the moon.
• This was supposed to happen in 2019 if that part of the Chandrayaan2
mission hadn’t failed. Anyway, the Chandrayaan-1 Impact Mission Made
India the fifth country to touch the moon’s surface. After the Soviet Union,
America, Japan, and the European Space Agency, i.e., Europe. Since then,
four more countries have achieved this. China, Israel, Luxembourg, and the
United Arab Emirates. These countries did this in 2009, 2019, March 2022,
and December 2022 respectively.
 • After Chandrayaan-3, the next big plan of our Indian Space Agency is
Gagan Yaan. To develop a spacecraft which can take Indian astronauts into
the orbit. Originally, this was planned for 2022. But, there have been many
delays in this mission. Now, it is expected to be done in 2025. If we talk
about Moon missions, Russia’s Luna 25 was launched a few days ago. And
the latest update is that it has crashed on the Moon. So this Russian mission
has failed. America’s Artemis II is also planned for November 2024 when
humans will be sent to orbit the Moon. Those who will go on this mission
will travel the furthest distance in space. And in the coming years, China is
also planning To send astronauts to the moon.

Launch and mission timeline

ISRO launched its second attempt to land on the Moon, aiming to become the
fourth country to achieve this feat. The mission faces challenges such as navigating
the long journey, entering the Moon’s orbit, and making a soft landing. Lunar dust
and the uneven surface further complicate the mission.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday launched the
second attempt for India to land on the Moon, aiming to become the fourth
country to achieve the feat. This unmanned spacecraft attempts to land on
the surface of the Moon, its second attempt to become only the fourth
country to do so. Notably, there were other failed missions to moon from
other countries in the same year. The Israel-led Beresheet mission failed in
early 2019.
• Further in 2023 April, the Japanese Hakuto-R mission also failed to
complete a soft landing on the Moon .
• These are only a few examples of the several missions that failed to land on
Moon. To be far more specific, making the journey out of earth’s Orbit and
entering the Moon’s Orbit even before landing on the lunar surface is a task
in itself. NASA has earlier dumped a moon mission because a failure in the
spacecraft’s propulsion system meant that it could not enter the lunar orbit.
 • Soft landing on Moon
ISRO Chief called the 15 minute-duration of the soft-landing on Moon “15
minutes of terror” when the lander has to fire its engines at the right times and right
altitudes, use just the right amount of fuel, make accurate scans of the lunar
surface’s hills and craters and finally touch down.
• The whole process is autonomous, meaning the ISRO cannot do much to
guide the lander from Earth.
• Earth’s atmosphere is thick enough for a spacecraft to slow down for landing
due to friction. However, Moon does not provide a similar atmosphere
wherein, if not slowed down, the spacecraft might crash.
• Soft-landing a lunar module means going from the roaring speeds of over
6,000 km/h to zero.
• Lunar Dust
Even after the spacecraft has achieved the difficult task of soft landing, there is the
issue of lunar dust. When touching down, the lander’s thrusters blast lunar dust off
the surface at high speeds. This can obscure the camera lens and trigger faulty
readings.
• Like Apollo 15, all other Apollo missions faced problems due to dust.
Besides dust getting into the astronauts’ space suits and degrading suit
pressure, it also caused devices to malfunction.
• No GPS on Moon
The moon does not have a digital map to make a precise landing. This means that
onboard computers will have to make quick calculations and decisions to land
itself precisely on the Moon.
• At this point the onboard computers are the only look out wherein these
devices have to autonomously react quickly to last-minute issues.

How Chandrayaan-3 will help India?

With Chandrayaan-3’s success, India’s economy stands to benefit greatly from
such a significant space sector accomplishment. This accomplishment will help
India’s space sector grow and raise the country’s stature internationally in both
lunar and space exploration.

CHANDRAYAN 3 ROVER DETAILS

• Mobility: The rover is expected to have wheels or tracks to move across the lunar
surface. This mobility allows it to traverse the terrain and reach different locations for
scientific investigations.
• Scientific Instruments: Chandrayaan-3's rover is likely to carry a suite of scientific
instruments, such as spectrometers, cameras, and sensors. These tools will enable the
analysis of the lunar regolith (surface material) and provide insights into the Moon's
geological composition.
• Communication System: A robust communication system will facilitate data
transmission between the rover and the orbiter, which, in turn, relays information to
Earth. This enables real-time or near-real-time monitoring and control of the rover's
activities.
• Power Source: The rover is expected to be equipped with a power source, possibly solar
panels, to generate the electricity needed for its operations. Solar panels can harness
sunlight on the Moon to charge the rover's batteries.

Future Aspect

• Advancements in Lunar Exploration: Chandrayaan-3 represents a crucial step in

advancing India's capabilities in lunar exploration. The mission will likely incorporate
lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2, leading to improved technology and operational
expertise.
• Scientific Discoveries: The rover and scientific instruments aboard Chandrayaan-3 are
poised to make significant contributions to lunar science. Discoveries related to the
Moon's geology, mineral composition, and potential resources, such as water ice, can
broaden our understanding of Earth's celestial neighbor.
• International Collaboration: As with previous Indian space missions, Chandrayaan-3
may involve collaboration with international partners. Such collaboration fosters the
exchange of knowledge, technology, and resources, contributing to the global space
community's collective understanding.
 • Technological Advancements: The development and execution of Chandrayaan-3 will
likely lead to technological advancements in areas such as spacecraft design, autonomous
navigation, and communication systems. These advancements can have broader
applications in future space exploration missions.
• Preparation for Human Exploration: India has expressed aspirations for human
spaceflight. The knowledge gained from Chandrayaan-3 can contribute to preparations
for future crewed missions, as lunar exploration is often considered a stepping stone for
human space exploration beyond Earth's orbit.
• Inspiration and Education: Successful space missions, such as Chandrayaan-3, inspire
the public and encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) fields. The mission can serve as a catalyst for educational initiatives and the
development of a skilled workforce in space-related disciplines.
• Long-Term Lunar Exploration Plans: Chandrayaan-3 is part of India's broader vision
for lunar exploration. The success of the mission may pave the way for future endeavors,
including extended lunar missions, collaboration with other countries, and potential
contributions to international efforts to establish a sustainable human presence on the
Moon.

It's essential to stay updated with official announcements from ISRO and reliable space-related
sources for the latest information on Chandrayaan-3 and its future implications, as developments
may have occurred after my last update in January 2022.

Technological Upgrade

• Improved Navigation Systems: Chandrayaan-3 could feature enhanced navigation

systems to improve precision during descent and landing. Improved autonomous
navigation and hazard avoidance capabilities would increase the rover's safety and
efficiency.
• Advanced Communication Systems: Upgrades in communication systems would
ensure more reliable and faster data transmission between the orbiter, rover, and Earth.
This is essential for real-time monitoring and control of mission activities.
• Enhanced Scientific Instruments: The rover's payload of scientific instruments may see
technological upgrades, such as improved sensors and analytical tools. These
enhancements could lead to more accurate data collection and a deeper understanding of
lunar geology.
• Optimized Power Management: Advances in power generation and storage
technologies, such as more efficient solar panels and batteries, could be integrated into
 Chandrayaan-3. This would contribute to prolonged mission duration and increased
scientific output.
• Robust Thermal Control: Lunar missions face extreme temperature variations.
Technological upgrades in thermal control systems would help protect the spacecraft and
its instruments, ensuring optimal performance under varying lunar conditions.
• Autonomous Operations: Chandrayaan-3 might incorporate advancements in
autonomous operations, allowing the rover to make decisions based on real-time data and
adapt to unforeseen circumstances on the lunar surface.
• Risk Mitigation Strategies: Lessons learned from previous missions, including
Chandrayaan-2, may lead to the implementation of improved risk mitigation strategies.
This could involve redundancy in critical systems to ensure mission success under
various scenarios.
• Innovations in Propulsion: Upgrades in propulsion systems for the orbiter and lander
could contribute to more precise orbital maneuvers and controlled landings. This is
particularly important for optimizing the mission's scientific objectives.
• Data Handling and Storage: Advances in data handling and storage technologies would
facilitate the efficient collection, processing, and storage of large volumes of data
generated by the mission's scientific instruments.

Previous Chandraayan Mission

1. Chandrayaan-1 (2008):

• Objective: Chandrayaan-1 was India's first lunar probe, designed to explore the Moon
and make scientific discoveries.
• Launch Date: October 22, 2008.
• Components:
o Orbiter: Conducted remote sensing observations and carried 11 scientific
instruments.
o Impact Probe: Released and impacted the Moon's surface, carrying scientific
instruments to study lunar soil.
o Moon Impact Probe (MIP): Deployed by the orbiter, it impacted the Moon with
scientific instruments.
• Key Discoveries:
o Chandrayaan-1 confirmed the presence of water molecules on the Moon's surface.
o It mapped the Moon's surface in detail and identified various lunar minerals.
2. Chandrayaan-2 (2019):

• Objective: Chandrayaan-2 aimed to explore the Moon, specifically the lunar south pole
region, with an orbiter, lander, and rover.
• Launch Date: July 22, 2019.
• Components:
o Orbiter: Continues to orbit the Moon and study its surface from an altitude.
o Vikram (Lander): Intended to perform a soft landing on the Moon's surface with
the rover.
o Pragyan (Rover): Designed for in-situ analysis of the lunar surface, equipped with
scientific instruments.
• Key Events:
o The orbiter continues to send valuable data and images from lunar orbit.
o The Vikram lander lost communication during its descent, and the Pragyan rover's
planned activities did not occur.
o Despite challenges, Chandrayaan-2 provided important data for lunar science.

3. Upcoming: Chandrayaan-3 (Future):

• Objective: Chandrayaan-3 is expected to continue India's lunar exploration efforts with

an orbiter, lander, and rover.
• Expected Launch: The exact launch date may vary, but it is planned for the near future.
• Anticipated Improvements: Chandrayaan-3 is expected to incorporate lessons learned
from Chandrayaan-2, with potential technological upgrades and improvements in mission
execution.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end

capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. It consists of Lander and
Rover configuration. It will be launched by LVM3 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
India launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon because it wants to learn
more about our mysterious neighbor in the sky. Imagine the Moon as a big, rocky
playground in outer space, and we Earthlings want to discover all its secrets.

• The name “Vikram” for Chandrayaan-3’s lander is a tribute to the visionary

scientist Vikram Sarabhai.
Who made Vikram lander?
Chandra’s Surface Thermo-physical Experiment (ChaSTE) thermal probe jointly
developed by SPL, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Physical Research
Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for estimating the thermal properties of the lunar
surface.

Mission Goals
As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, specific details about the mission
goals of Chandrayaan-3 had not been officially released by the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO). However, based on the general objectives of lunar
exploration and India's previous lunar missions, we can infer some common goals
that Chandrayaan-3 might aim to achieve:

1. Continued Lunar Exploration:

- Like its predecessors, Chandrayaan-3 is expected to continue the exploration of
the Moon, focusing on specific regions that hold scientific interest. This may
include areas with unique geological features or potential resources.

2. Detailed Lunar Surface Mapping:

- Chandrayaan-3 is likely to conduct high-resolution mapping of the lunar
surface to enhance our understanding of its topography, mineral composition, and
geological features. This mapping can provide valuable data for scientific research.

3. Search for Water Ice:

- The mission may involve efforts to detect and study water ice on the Moon's
surface. The presence of water is of particular interest for potential future lunar
exploration and utilization.

4. In-Situ Analysis with Rover:

- If Chandrayaan-3 includes a rover, it would aim to perform in-situ analysis of
lunar soil and rocks. The rover's scientific instruments would provide detailed data
on the composition of the lunar regolith and contribute to our understanding of
lunar geology.

5. Technological Advancements:
- Chandrayaan-3 is likely to incorporate technological advancements over
previous missions, enhancing capabilities in areas such as navigation,
communication, and scientific instrumentation. These advancements aim to
improve mission success and data collection.

6. International Collaboration:
- Collaboration with international space agencies or institutions may be part of
Chandrayaan-3's goals. Such partnerships can lead to shared resources, expertise,
and a more comprehensive understanding of lunar science.

7. Preparation for Future Missions:

- Chandrayaan-3 could serve as a stepping stone for future lunar missions,
including the potential for human exploration. Lessons learned from Chandrayaan-
3 can contribute to the development of more ambitious lunar programs.

It's important to note that the specific mission goals may evolve based on scientific
priorities, technological capabilities, and international collaborations. To obtain the
most accurate and up-to-date information, it is recommended to refer to official
announcements from ISRO or other reliable space-related sources.

Questions:

➢ Will Vikram lander return to Earth??

No, Vikram and Pragyan are not supposed to come back to the earth. They will
remain on the moon. The name “Vikram” for Chandrayaan-3’s lander is a tribute
to the visionary scientist Vikram Sarabhai.
 ➢ Why is rover named Pragyan?
The Pragyan rover, a six-wheeled robotic vehicle named after the Sanskrit word for
‘wisdom’, completed its assignments before being safely parked and set into sleep
mode. Pragyan is a lunar rover developed by the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO). Part of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, it successfully
landed near the lunar south pole on 23 August 2023. It explored the moon using
cameras and scientific instruments for nearly two weeks.

➢ Who made Chandrayaan-3?

ISRO
Chandrayaan-3 (CH-3) is currently on an ambitious journey to reach the
moon, with the objective of achieving a soft landing, exploring the lunar
surface, and collecting invaluable scientific data. This mission is a
technological challenge undertaken by India, led by ISRO.

➢ Did Chandrayaan-3 wake up?

Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan’s battery was fully charged, and the receiver was
kept on. Similarly, Vikram’s payloads were kept on. Despite all this, Vikram
and Pragyan did not come back to life.

➢ What made Chandrayaan-3 successful?

Former NASA official Mike Gold said Chandrayaan-3’s success is a victory
of Indian innovation, human capital and the capabilities that will take India
further. He also mentioned that what makes the success of Chandrayaan-3
amazing is the “relatively little amount of resources that India has used”.

➢ What are the advantages of landing Chandrayaan-3?

 Scientific research: The mission will help scientists to better understand the
Moon’s formation and evolution. They will be able to study the Moon’s
surface, its interior, and its atmosphere. They could also study the effects of
the Moon’s gravity and radiation on humans and other living things.

References
https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3.html
https://spacenews.com/chandrayaan-3-india-becomes-fourth-country-to-land-
on-the-moon/

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/23/science/india-moon-landing-
chandrayaan-3
https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-success
https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/23/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-
landing-mission
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/moons-south-pole-is-full-of-mystery-science-
intrigue
https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/09/06/133128/india-s-chandrayaan-2-
lander-likely-crashed-into-the-moons-surface
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/chandrayaan-3-goes-dark-
again-vikram-lander-pragyan-rover-sleep-forever-8972159
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/vikram-landers-sudden-
hop-on-the-moon-why-its-a-big-deal-2430701-2023-09-04