Chandrayaan-3 is India's third lunar exploration mission. It was launched on July 14, 2023, and is scheduled to soft-land in the lunar South Pole region on August 23-24. If successful, Chandrayaan-3 will make India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the moon.
The mission is also significant because it will be the first time that India has attempted to land a spacecraft in the lunar South Pole region. The lunar South Pole region is thought to be a potential source of water ice, which could be used to support future human exploration of the moon.
In addition, Chandrayaan-3 will carry a number of scientific instruments that will be used to study the lunar surface and atmosphere. These instruments will help scientists to better understand the moon's formation, evolution, and potential for future human exploration.
The main objectives of the mission are to:
Study the lunar South Pole region
Assess the potential for water ice
Demonstrate new technologies for
India's 'Rocket Woman' behind the lunar mission
The woman behind the Chandrayaan-3 mission is Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava. She is a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and is the Project Director of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Dr. Karidhal is a highly accomplished scientist and engineer with over 25 years of experience in the space sector. She has played a key role in many of ISRO's major space missions, including Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and Mangalyaan. She is a strong advocate for women in STEM fields and is a role model for young women who are interested in pursuing careers in science and engineering. She is also a recipient of the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.
She is a role model for young women who are interested in pursuing careers in science and engineering. She is an inspiration to us all and her work on Chandrayaan-3 is a testament to her dedication and commitment to science.
Other interesting facts about Chandrayaan-3:
The lander is named Vikram, after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program.
The rover is named Pragyan, which means "wisdom" in Sanskrit.
The propulsion module that will carry the lander and rover to the moon has a Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.
The mission's total cost is estimated to be around ₹1000 crores (US$130 million).
Overall, Chandrayaan-3 is a significant mission that has the potential to make important scientific discoveries and pave the way for future human exploration of the moon. As, it is India's first soft landing on the lunar South Pole region therefore the mission will also boost India's prestige on the world stage and help to promote the country's scientific and technological prowess.