Moon landing: Chandrayaan 3 could make history in space today

Chandrayaan 3 ready for landing, India’s space agency is edging closer to a mission that might have an impact on the nation’s status as a space power and future lunar exploration. The project involves an attempt to land a spacecraft on the south pole of the moon.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission launched on July 14 from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, which serves as India’s primary space port.

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After Russia’s failed attempt to land on the south pole of the moon before it, it has since looped through ever wider-ranging orbits of Earth, changed to a lunar orbit, and become a source of pride for the country and interest for the entire world.

THE MISSION

The Chandrayaan-3 is pointed at the lunar south pole, where there is water ice, or frozen water, which might serve as a source of oxygen, fuel, and water for upcoming moon missions or a more long-term lunar colony.

If it lands properly, Chandrayaan-3 should continue operating for two weeks while conducting a number of experiments, including a spectrometer investigation of the lunar surface’s mineral composition.

The Chandrayaan-3 lander is roughly the size of an SUV, standing about 2 meters tall and weighing slightly over 1,700 kg (3,747.86 lb). It is intended to launch a 26-kg lunar rover that is smaller.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told Reuters that the American space agency was “looking forward” to the lessons that the Indian mission will provide.

EARLIER ATTEMPTS, CHALLENGES

India’s prior attempt to set foot on the lunar south pole in 2019 was unsuccessful.

The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter successfully launched, but the lander and rover lost in a crash not far from the site of the Chandrayaan-3 touchdown attempt.

One of the difficulties for a landing in the south pole is rough terrain. According to ISRO experts, changes have made that increase the likelihood that the current mission would land successfully. That also consists of a mechanism to increase the probable landing zone. Additionally, the lander has given more fuel and stronger impact-resistant legs.

The Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon over the weekend, ending Russia’s first lunar trip in 47 years.

In April, ispace (9348.T), a private Japanese space firm, attempted but failed to land on the moon.