Important Facts For Prelims
Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module Returns to Earth's Orbit
- 12 Dec 2023
- 5 min read
Why in News?
Recently, scientists successfully brought the Propulsion Module (PM) of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which brought the Vikram lander within 100 km of the Moon's surface before detaching.
- This historic event involved a controlled descent to the lunar surface and a successful return to Earth orbit.
What is Mission Chandrayan?
- India has launched a total of three Chandrayaan Missions i.e., Chandrayan-1, Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayan-3.
- Chandrayaan-1:
- India's first mission to the Moon was Chandrayaan-1 launched successfully in 2008. It was designed to orbit the Moon and make observations with instruments on board.
- Key Findings of Chandrayaan-1:
- Confirmed presence of lunar water.
- Evidence of lunar caves formed by an ancient lunar lava flow.
- Past tectonic activity was found on the lunar surface.
- The faults and fractures discovered could be features of past interior tectonic activity coupled with meteorite impacts.
- Chandrayan-2:
- Chandrayaan-2 is an integrated 3-in-1 spacecraft consisting of an orbiter of the Moon, Vikram (after Vikram Sarabhai) the lander and Pragyan (wisdom) the rover, all equipped with scientific instruments to study the moon.
- Launched: 22th July 2019
- Lander Vikram: It remains stationary after touching down, and mainly studies the moon’s atmosphere and seismic activity.
- Rover Pragyan: The Rover, a six-wheeled solar-powered vehicle, detaches itself and slowly crawls on the surface, making observations and collecting data.
- Chandrayaan-2's lander had crashed, or made a hard landing, on the Moon's surface because of its high velocity.
- However, its orbiter is functioning very well and this will communicate with Chandrayaan-3 lander.
- Chandrayaan-3:
- It was India's third lunar mission and second attempt at achieving a soft landing on the moon's surface.
- Launched: July 14, 2023.
- Objectives:
- To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface
- To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon
- To conduct In-situ scientific experiments.
- It consists of an indigenous Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM) and a Rover with an objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies required for Interplanetary missions.
What is the Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module?
- Chandrayaan-3: It utilized a lightweight Propulsion Module for the lander's journey to the Moon instead of a complete orbiter.
- SpectroPolarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE): The Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module carried a single instrument called SHAPE.
- It was an experimental payload designed to study Earth's characteristics that make it habitable, aiming to identify habitable exoplanets.
- Pragyaan Rover: The propulsion module separated from the lander, which carried the Pragyaan rover. It was anticipated to orbit the Moon for an additional six months, with SHAPE observing Earth.
How Does the Propulsion Module Return to Earth Orbit?
- The experiment allows ISRO to work towards developing a software module to plan going forward.
- Taking fuel availability and safety into account, designed the best trajectory for the Earth return.
- The SHAPE payload is operated whenever Earth is visible, including a special operation.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)
The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
- is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
- made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
- made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (c)
Mains
Q. Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development? (2016)
