Chandrayaan Orbiter: India’s Lunar Scout

by Yogi P - August 22, 2023

Chandrayaan Orbiter: India’s Lunar Scout

The Chandrayaan orbiter is a spacecraft that is orbiting the moon as part of the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The orbiter is named after Chandrayaan, the Hindu goddess of the moon.

The Chandrayaan orbiter is about 1.5 meters tall and 2 meters wide. It weighs about 2,400 kilograms. The orbiter is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments that will be used to study the moon’s surface, subsurface, and atmosphere.

The Chandrayaan orbiter was launched on July 22, 2019, and entered lunar orbit on August 20, 2019. The orbiter is currently in a 100-kilometer-high orbit around the moon.

The Chandrayaan orbiter is carrying a number of scientific instruments that will be used to study the moon. These instruments include:

• A Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC) to create a high-resolution map of the moon’s surface.
• A Hyperspectral Imaging Camera (HySI) to study the chemical composition of the moon’s surface.
• A Lunar Exploration Rover Camera (LEC) to take images of the moon’s surface from the perspective of the rover.
• A Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LRBI) to measure the distance between the orbiter and the moon’s surface.
• A Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) to study the chemical composition of the moon’s surface.

The Chandrayaan orbiter is a valuable asset to the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The orbiter will provide data and images that will help scientists to better understand the moon. The orbiter will also help to guide the rover to its landing site.

The Chandrayaan orbiter is expected to continue operating until 2025. During this time, it will continue to collect data and images of the moon. The orbiter will also help to pave the way for future missions to the moon.

The Importance of the Chandrayaan Orbiter

The Chandrayaan orbiter is an important spacecraft for a number of reasons. First, it will help to further our understanding of the moon. The scientific instruments on the orbiter will collect data on the moon’s surface, subsurface, and atmosphere. This data will help us to better understand the moon’s formation and evolution.

Second, the Chandrayaan orbiter will help to demonstrate India’s capabilities in space exploration. The successful operation of the orbiter will be a major achievement for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and will boost India’s reputation as a spacefaring nation.

Third, the Chandrayaan orbiter will inspire young people in India and around the world. The success of the mission will show that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

The Future of the Chandrayaan Orbiter

The Chandrayaan orbiter is just the beginning of India’s lunar exploration program. The ISRO plans to launch a number of other missions to the moon in the coming years. These missions will include a rover, a lander, and an orbiter.

The ISRO also plans to send a human mission to the moon in the future. The first human mission to the moon is expected to launch in the 2030s.

The Chandrayaan orbiter is a major milestone for the ISRO and for India’s space program. The orbiter will continue to collect data and images of the moon for years to come, helping us to better understand our nearest neighbor.