July 14, 2023 is one of the proud days for India. Chandrayaan-3 was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota at 2.35 pm. The Chandrayaan-3 is said to be the follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2.
The specifications are;
Mission Life (Lander and Rover): 1 Lunar Day (approx. 14 Earth)
Its configuration has two module, Propulsion and Lander. Propulsion module carries the lander to the Lunar orbit from the launch injection. Lander module, where in the lander is accommodated with the rover. Mass is a total of 3900 kg, split as Propulsion module being 2148 kg and Lander Module being 1752 kg.
Communication happens with IDSN in the Propulsion module, while with Lander module communication happens with IDSN and Rover. The Lander Propulsion system is Bi- Propellant with 4 Throttleable engines of 800 N and 8 Throttleable Engine Control Electronics of 58 N.
The above said are just a few of the specification, the data of which is found in the ISRO website.
The mission objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are:
To show landing on Lunar Surface safely and softly.
To show roving on the move by the rover
To do in-situ scientific experiments.
To achieve the mission objectives, several advanced technologies are present in Lander such as,
Altimeters: Laser & RF based Altimeters
Velocimeters: Laser Doppler Velocimeter & Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera
Inertial Measurement: Laser Gyro based Inertial referencing and Accelerometer package
Propulsion System: 800N Throttleable Liquid Engines, 58N attitude thrusters & Throttleable Engine Control Electronics
Navigation, Guidance & Control (NGC): Powered Descent Trajectory design and associate software elements
Hazard Detection and Avoidance: Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera and Processing Algorithm
Landing Leg Mechanism.
The objectives are given by ISRO, so are the technologies used. Many integrated tests, some hot and some cold have been carried out to demonstrate the technologies used in Chandrayaan-3 on Earth.
This launch is the hard work of many scientists and a step ahead for India in the field of Space Research and Technology.