NB Explains | Mark the calendar! ISRO to launch its Chandrayaan-3 on this date; Know details

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is in the final stages of preparing to launch India's ambitious moon mission Chandrayaan-3. The spacecraft is in the final assembly of the payloads at the UR Rao Satellite Centre. And as per the latest information, the space agency will launch the Chandrayaan-3 mission in the second week of July.

 

 

Chandrayaan 3 consists of Lander and Rover configuration and will be launched by LVM3 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. While Isro did not officially confirm the dates, a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the project is moving on track.

 

“The project is right on track, and the way things are moving, the launch is expected to be on July 12,” the official said.

 

“The lunar touchdown is likely on August 23,” the official said

 

 

 

The Chandrayaan-3 mission carries scientific instruments to study the thermo-physical properties of the lunar regolith, lunar seismicity, lunar surface plasma environment and elemental composition in the vicinity of the landing site. The lander and the rover will have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar surface.

 

ISRO says the mission aims to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.

According to ISRO, the primary mission objectives are to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, to operate a rover once it rolls out of the lander and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

 

During the course of the mission, all the payloads of Chandrayaan-3 will collect data on the thermal properties of the lunar surface near the polar region, plasma density near the surface, chemical composition of the lunar surface, seismic activity around the landing site and much more.

 

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up to the Chandrayan-2 mission that will demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface and consists of a lander-rover configuration.

 

In March this year, Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully completed the essential tests that validated its capability to withstand the harsh vibration and acoustic environment that the spacecraft would face during its launch.