Chandrayaan-3 mission is expected to send home information about Moon’s atmosphere, soil, minerals etc.

ISRO to launch an awareness campaign across the country next month, mobilizing students and the common man in view of the huge interest witnessed in the Live telecast of Chandrayaan-3 Moon Landing, says Dr Jitendra Singh

Delhi: Union Minister of State for Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has stated that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is anticipated to yield valuable insights into the Moon’s atmosphere, soil composition, and minerals. The information gathered could have pioneering significance for the global scientific community and far-reaching implications for the future. The Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover are on track to achieve mission goals as planned. In an exclusive interview, Dr. Jitendra Singh elaborated that Chandrayaan-3’s scientific payloads are designed to comprehensively evaluate lunar surface features. This includes studying the thermal properties and surface components of the lunar topsoil, as well as the plasma environment near the Moon’s surface. Additionally, the mission will assess lunar seismic activities and the effects of meteor impacts on the lunar surface.

Dr. Singh emphasized the significance of these findings for understanding the lunar near-surface environment and for future developments related to lunar habitats and exploration. The Vikram Lander carries instruments like a seismometer (ILSA), ChaSTE, Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP), and a laser retroreflector array, while the Pragyan Rover is equipped with payloads such as the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). These instruments are intended to operate continuously from August 24, 2023, throughout the mission. Notably, the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) will conduct ongoing observations of lunar seismic events and meteor impacts. This is the first instance of a seismometer being deployed to study vibrations on the lunar surface at higher latitudes. Dr. Singh further explained that ChaSTE, consisting of high-precision thermal sensors, will delve into the Moon’s topsoil to analyze temperature fluctuations. The mission aims to comprehend the temperature variations that are critical for the potential use of lunar regolith in future habitat construction.

The Langmuir probe will study the Moon’s near-surface plasma and its diurnal changes, contributing to an assessment of lunar surface charging for upcoming manned missions. The Pragyan Rover’s APXS and LIBS instruments will conduct elemental composition measurements at designated points along its route, providing insights into lunar surface properties in higher latitudes. Beyond the lander and rover payloads, the Chandrayaan-3 Mission includes the Spectropolarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) instrument on the moon’s propulsion orbit, aimed at identifying Earth-like exoplanets. Although the lander and rover are designed for a one-Moon-day (14 Earth days) lifespan, there are plans to assess their condition after a lunar night and potentially revive them using residual battery power and solar panels.

Meanwhile, ISRO is gearing up to launch the Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun from space. Dr. Jitendra Singh also mentioned that the Gaganyaan project, India’s first manned mission to space, is a significant upcoming endeavor. Dr. Singh highlighted the advancements in India’s space sector in the past years, including increased launch missions, the establishment of a regional navigation satellite system, and the initiation of space sector reforms. The emergence of space sector startups, around 200 at present, has been notable. An awareness campaign is set to be launched in September to engage students and the public, following the impressive viewership of the Chandrayaan-3 landing event on YouTube. The campaign will encompass various activities, with a focus on space startups and tech partners.