CHANDRAYAAN-3:STEP ON MOON :चंद्रयान-3
Chandrayaan-3 is currently on its way to the moon. It will be a 42-day journey. The spacecraft is in an oval-shaped orbit, reaching a maximum distance of 41,762 km from Earth and a minimum distance of 173 km. In the coming days, the spacecraft will reach a height of approximately 220 km, where it will undergo various tests and adjustments. After that, it will be released from Earth's gravitational pull and captured in orbit around the moon through a process called translunar injection. Over time, the orbit will decrease, bringing the spacecraft closer to the moon. Eventually, it will attempt a gentle landing near the South Pole of the moon from an orbit approximately 100 km above the surface.
Although everyone is focused on the final step of the gentle landing, the journey leading up to it is filled with challenges, similar to Ulysses' journey to Ithaca. All of this will keep us in suspense until August 23.
For the first time, anyone who wanted to could watch the launch process in great detail on various widely available platforms such as community screens, televisions, and mobile phones. In the intense initial phase of 1,000 seconds, everything went according to plan. The liquid core ignited, propelling the spacecraft to a higher orbit. Finally, the innovative cryogenic engine, which utilized solid hydrogen and oxygen at temperatures of -200 degrees Celsius, further boosted the spacecraft's orbit before separating from the satellite.
The sight of thousands of school children at Sriharikota cheering echoed throughout school grounds, marketplaces, community spaces, and homes across the nation. It was as if the national team had won a crucial cricket match. This is what made this launch unique. Since the pandemic, access to digital media, online discussions, and news sharing has become widespread. Everyone watched and cheered.
Although everyone is focused on the final step of the gentle landing, the journey leading up to it is filled with challenges, similar to Ulysses' journey to Ithaca. All of this will keep us in suspense until August 23.
For the first time, anyone who wanted to could watch the launch process in great detail on various widely available platforms such as community screens, televisions, and mobile phones. In the intense initial phase of 1,000 seconds, everything went according to plan. The liquid core ignited, propelling the spacecraft to a higher orbit. Finally, the innovative cryogenic engine, which utilized solid hydrogen and oxygen at temperatures of -200 degrees Celsius, further boosted the spacecraft's orbit before separating from the satellite.
The sight of thousands of school children at Sriharikota cheering echoed throughout school grounds, marketplaces, community spaces, and homes across the nation. It was as if the national team had won a crucial cricket match. This is what made this launch unique. Since the pandemic, access to digital media, online discussions, and news sharing has become widespread. Everyone watched and cheered.
In 1957, as the Russians launched Sputnik, Vikram Sarabhai, who laid the foundation for India's space program, leading to the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said: "There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no doubt about our purpose. We do not have the dream of competing with economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space flight. But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second to none in the application of advanced technologies to the real problems of humanity and society."
The importance of Chandrayaan-3
the Indian space program is enormous. The mission is a significant advancement in India's lunar exploration program, and it is certain to make substantial contributions to our knowledge of the moon. Perhaps more importantly, it will demonstrate India's capabilities and enhance its reputation in the global space community, which will attract more investment in the country's space industry.
One is painfully aware that the private sector in India, despite being capable, is involved in only a small portion of the space business in the international industrial sector, currently valued at about $500 billion. This needs to change, and the Indian industry must become a major global player.
The government's newly-revealed Space Policy 2023 states that India's space program should "facilitate, promote, and develop a thriving commercial presence in space." Chandrayaan-3 is a clear example of how India's space program is helping accomplish this objective.
The mission is a collaborative effort between ISRO and the Indian private sector. This is the first time that India has partnered with the private sector on a significant space mission, and it demonstrates the government's dedication to the new Space Policy. The lander and rover that will be deployed on the Moon were developed by a group of Indian companies in cooperation with ISRO laboratories. The mission's ground control systems were also developed by ISRO with the assistance of the industry, and much of the mission's data will be processed and analyzed by the private sector.
India is now a signatory to the Artemis Accords, an agreement with the other leading Space Agencies of the world – NASA (US), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and the CSA (Canada) — for moon exploration with the goal of colonizing it.
India’s scientists are currently participating in several cutting-edge global projects that are pushing the boundaries of technology. India has encountered challenges related to both hardware and software in the Thirty Meter Telescope project, in collaborations at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, and in the early stages of the recently-approved Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Observatory in India (LIGO-India) and the Square Kilometre Array in Radio Astronomy. The technological accomplishments in the fields of astrophysics and space exploration are now visible to the entire world.
As an astrophysicist, I am extremely enthusiastic about the anticipated scientific outcomes of this project. The moon and earth were formed simultaneously using the same materials. Gaining an understanding of the moon's formation and composition will greatly contribute to our understanding of how our planet came to be.
Out of the three countries that have successfully landed humans or instruments on the moon (the US, former USSR, China), none have ventured far into its southern hemisphere. The lander will touch down near the South Pole at a latitude of 70 degrees south. Why is this significant?
The moon's surface contains numerous geographical variations that are worth exploring, and the southern hemisphere in particular is home to many high mountains and deep craters that are more extreme in nature than those found in the northern hemisphere. These features block sunlight, resulting in large areas of permanently shadowed regions near the poles where temperatures can reach as low as -200 degrees Celsius. These regions are rich in volatiles, which are elements or compounds that melt or vaporize at relatively low temperatures. Water, which we believe exists in significant quantities in the form of supercooled ice, is included among these volatile substances. These volatiles could provide valuable insights into the history of the solar system.
As an astrophysicist, I am extremely enthusiastic about the anticipated scientific outcomes of this project. The moon and earth were formed simultaneously using the same materials. Gaining an understanding of the moon's formation and composition will greatly contribute to our understanding of how our planet came to be.
Out of the three countries that have successfully landed humans or instruments on the moon (the US, former USSR, China), none have ventured far into its southern hemisphere. The lander will touch down near the South Pole at a latitude of 70 degrees south. Why is this significant?
The moon's surface contains numerous geographical variations that are worth exploring, and the southern hemisphere in particular is home to many high mountains and deep craters that are more extreme in nature than those found in the northern hemisphere. These features block sunlight, resulting in large areas of permanently shadowed regions near the poles where temperatures can reach as low as -200 degrees Celsius. These regions are rich in volatiles, which are elements or compounds that melt or vaporize at relatively low temperatures. Water, which we believe exists in significant quantities in the form of supercooled ice, is included among these volatile substances. These volatiles could provide valuable insights into the history of the solar system.
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