India has launched Chandrayaan-3, its third attempt to land a robotic spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole. This mission is a partial redo of the 2019 Chandrayaan-2 mission, which ended in a crash. If successful, Chandrayaan-3 will be the second country this century, after China, to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. Other nations, including the United States, China, Russia, and Japan, also have lunar missions planned.
Chandrayaan-3 was launched from Sriharikota, India’s east coast, and will undergo engine firings to adjust its orbit before heading towards the Moon. The landing is scheduled for August 23 or 24, aiming for sunrise at the designated landing site in the lunar south polar region.
However, improvements have been made based on lessons learned from previous missions. The lander has been modified with stronger landing legs, increased propellant capacity, additional solar cells, and improved altitude sensors. The software has been updated to allow faster turns, and the landing area has been expanded.
If successful, the lander and rover of Chandrayaan-3 will conduct scientific experiments, including thermal, seismic, and mineralogical measurements. The mission aims to gather valuable data on the Moon’s geology and composition. The lander and rover will operate for approximately two weeks, powered by solar energy until sunset.
India’s space program, managed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), is gaining recognition and collaboration opportunities. A joint mission with the United States to the International Space Station is planned for 2024. ISRO is also developing its own crewed spacecraft, Gaganyaan, with a revised timeline targeting 2025. India has signed the Artemis Accords and is collaborating with NASA on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission (NISAR) for Earth observation.
Chandrayaan-3’s success would enhance national pride and showcase India’s indigenous space program. The mission aligns with the country’s history of celebrating space achievements. Other upcoming lunar missions include Russia’s Luna 25 and Japan’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). Several commercial missions supported by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program are also planned.
