- After Chandrayaan-3’s lunar soft landing, the six-wheeled rover embarks on a voyage to discover the Moon’s mysteries.
- The mission’s payloads and equipment will investigate lunar quakes, mineral compositions, and water-ice presence, building on the knowledge obtained by its predecessors.
Mission Chandrayaan-3: Journey after Soft Landing
- The Arrival of Rover: The 26-kg rover, which was released from the Chandrayaan-3 lander, is expected to go up to 500 metres before beginning its lunar journey.
- Duration: The lander and rover, each equipped with six payloads, are designed to acquire significant data in a single lunar day (14 Earth days).
- Investigating Lunar Quakes: The Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to improve understanding of lunar quakes by building on previous research.
- Mineral Composition: The rover’s mission includes studying the mineral compositions of the Moon’s surface to learn more about its geological history.
- Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) Payload: The Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) payload aims to research the behaviour of electrons and ions near the lunar surface over time.
- Thermal Properties: The Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) on the Moon will investigate the thermal properties of the Moon’s polar regions.
- The Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) attempts to measure lunar quakes and research the composition of the Moon’s crust and mantle.
- NASA’s LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA) is a passive experiment that will serve as a target for precision laser measurements in future flights.
- Chemical Insights: The rover’s LASER Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) is meant to detect the lunar surface’s chemical and mineral composition.
- Analysis of the Elements: The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) will analyse elements in lunar soil and rocks such as magnesium, aluminium, silicon, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron.
- Mineral Mapping: The CLASS X-ray Fluorescence experiment provides precise mineral mapping by covering about 95% of the lunar surface. Oxygen-rich minerals have the potential to be used as fuel resources in future missions.
Previously, Chandrayaan: Pioneering Discoveries
- The existence of water and hydroxyl molecules in the Moon’s atmosphere and surface, notably in its southern polar regions, was discovered by Chandrayaan-1.
- Payloads like as mini-SAR and the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) discovered subsurface water-ice deposits within craters near the lunar South Pole.
- Terrain Mapping on Chandrayaan-1 revealed subterranean lava tubes that potentially provide protected dwellings for people, sheltering them from radiation and severe lunar conditions.
- M3 payload data supported the potential of a previous magma ocean on the Moon, pointing to its genesis and evolution.
- Contrary to popular belief, Chandrayaan-1 discovered dynamic lunar phenomena such as volcanic activity shown by lava channels and vents less than 100 million years old.
- Measurements revealed that the lunar surface interacts with the exosphere, as evidenced by the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases.
- Solar riddles: The Solar X-Ray Monitor on the spacecraft of Chandrayaan-2 discovered solar microflares beyond active zones, shedding light on coronal heating riddles.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/chandrayaan-3-landing-isro-indian-space-missions-independence-day-2421269-2023-08-15