In a groundbreaking achievement, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has marked history by successfully executing a ‘soft landing’ on the lunar surface. This remarkable feat has positioned India as the sole country to accomplish such a feat. A soft landing involves the controlled descent of a spacecraft at a gentle speed, ensuring minimal damage upon touchdown. This accomplishment underscores the spacecraft’s advanced technical capabilities, which enable it to execute precise maneuvers and braking techniques to gradually reduce velocity and align with the designated landing site.
Significance of Soft Landing
Soft landing is a pivotal aspect of space exploration as it showcases a country’s prowess in spacecraft technology. By employing a series of controlled maneuvers and deceleration techniques, the spacecraft achieves a controlled approach, avoiding any substantial damage during landing. This achievement reflects not only scientific advancements but also the engineering ingenuity required for successful space missions.
Why Chandrayaan 3 is landing on the South Pole?
Unlike previous lunar landings that predominantly targeted the Moon’s equatorial region due to its more hospitable terrain and temperature conditions, Chandrayaan-3 set its sights on the lunar South Pole. This decision was driven by several compelling factors. The presence of water ice in the permanently shadowed craters at the moon’s South Pole holds immense potential for future human exploration. Water could serve as a vital resource for sustenance, agricultural activities, and even rocket fuel production. Moreover, other volatile substances such as methane and ammonia might also exist in this region, offering additional resources for potential lunar missions.
The choice of the Moon’s south pole is not only pragmatic but scientifically enriching. The region encompasses the South Pole-Aitken basin, the moon’s largest impact basin, which presents a unique opportunity to gain insights into the Moon’s formation and evolution. Additionally, the area’s geographical features and advantageous positioning shield it from the Sun’s radiation, making it an ideal spot for astronomical observations and measurements.
Challenges and Modifications since Chandrayaan-2
Chandrayaan-2, India’s previous lunar mission, encountered difficulties during its descent, leading to a loss of control and an unsuccessful landing attempt. Learning from this experience, Chandrayaan-3 has undergone critical modifications to enhance its chances of a successful landing. The lander’s legs have been reinforced to withstand a landing speed of up to 10.8 km/hour. The landing site’s area has been expanded to a 4kmx2.4km zone, allowing for safer and more flexible landing options. Moreover, Chandrayaan-3 carries additional fuel, enabling last-minute adjustments to its landing site.
Chandrayaan-3 showcases several advancements over its predecessor. It boasts solar panels on all four sides of the lander, ensuring a consistent power supply even if the lander lands in an unintended orientation. This innovation guarantees that at least one or two sides will remain exposed to sunlight, keeping the lander operational.
Post-Landing Endeavors
Following a successful landing, Chandrayaan-3’s payloads will come into play. Payloads are instruments and experiments on the spacecraft that observe and record space phenomena, transmitting data back to Earth for analysis. The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover together carry six payloads, including instruments to study lunar quakes, analyze the lunar surface’s thermal properties, examine changes in plasma near the surface, and facilitate accurate measurement of Earth-Moon distances. A notable payload from NASA contributes to the mission’s scientific objectives. The rover itself hosts two payloads designed to scrutinize the chemical and mineral composition of lunar soil and rocks, particularly focusing on elements like magnesium, aluminum, and iron.
UPSC Mains Questions
- What challenges does the lunar South Pole pose for spacecraft operations, and how might these challenges be overcome?
- What crucial lessons were learned from Chandrayaan-2’s landing attempt, and how have these lessons been applied to Chandrayaan-3?
- What are the potential applications of water ice and other volatiles found at the Moon’s South Pole for future lunar missions and exploration?