by Yogi P - August 23, 2023

Chandrayaan-3 Landing Program: A Step Closer to Understanding the Moon

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is India’s third lunar mission, and it is the first to attempt to land near the Moon’s south pole. The south pole is a region that has not been well-explored by previous missions, and it is thought to be a rich source of water ice.

The landing program of Chandrayaan-3 is a complex and challenging undertaking. The lander will have to slow down from a speed of about 6,000 kilometers per hour to a standstill in just a few minutes. It will also have to land in a precise location, within a four-by-four-kilometer area.

The landing program is divided into four phases:

• Preliminary Descent: The lander will first enter a preliminary descent orbit around the Moon. This orbit will be about 100 kilometers above the surface.
• Powered Descent: The lander will then enter a powered descent phase. During this phase, the lander will use its thrusters to slow down and descend to the surface.
• Touchdown: The lander will touch down on the surface of the Moon at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour.
• Post-Touchdown: The lander will then deploy its solar panels and begin its mission.
  The landing program of Chandrayaan-3 is a critical part of the mission. If the lander is not able to land successfully, the rest of the mission will be a failure.

The ISRO has been conducting extensive tests of the landing program in the lead-up to the mission. The lander has been tested in a variety of environments, including vacuum chambers and centrifuges.

The ISRO is confident that the landing program of Chandrayaan-3 will be successful. The mission is a major milestone for India’s space program, and it is hoped that it will help to further our understanding of the Moon.

Here are some of the key challenges of the Chandrayaan-3 landing program:

• The Moon’s gravity is one-sixth of Earth’s gravity, so the lander will have to be much more precise in its movements.
• The Moon’s surface is covered in dust, which can make it difficult for the lander to land safely.
• The Moon’s atmosphere is very thin, so the lander will have to rely on its thrusters to slow down and land.

Despite these challenges, the ISRO is confident that the Chandrayaan-3 landing program will be successful. The space agency has been conducting extensive tests of the landing program, and it has a team of experienced engineers and scientists who are dedicated to making the mission a success.

The Chandrayaan-3 landing program is a major milestone for India’s space program. If the mission is successful, it will help to further our understanding of the Moon and its potential resources. It will also showcase India’s capabilities in the field of space exploration.

As per ISRO official website:

LVM3-M4-Chandrayaan-3 Mission: LIVE telecast of Soft-landing begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST on August 23, 2023