Chandrayaan-3: Mission Overview
Basic Details
• Mission Name: Chandrayaan-3
• Launched By: Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO)
• Launch Date: July 14, 2023, at 2:35 PM IST
• Launch Vehicle: LVM3-M4 (GSLV Mk III)
• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre,
Sriharikota, India
• Objective:
o Soft land on the Moon’s south pole
o Deploy and operate the Pragyan rover
o Conduct scientific experiments for lunar
exploration
Mission Phases
1. Earth Orbit Phase (July 14–31, 2023) – Multiple
orbit-raising maneuvers
2. Translunar Injection (August 1, 2023) –
Chandrayaan-3 moves toward the Moon
3. Lunar Orbit Phase (August 5–17, 2023) – Orbit
circularized around the Moon
4. Separation of Vikram Lander (August 17, 2023)
5. Soft Landing Near South Pole (August 23, 2023,
at 6:04 PM IST)
Vikram Lander
Key Features:
• Weight: 1749.86 kg
• Power Source: Solar panels
• Landing Speed: 1.68 m/s (Vertical) & 0.59 m/s
(Horizontal)
• Scientific Instruments:
o Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical
Experiment (ChaSTE) – Measures lunar
temperature
o Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity
(ILSA) – Detects moonquakes
o Langmuir Probe (LP) – Studies lunar plasma
environment
o Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) – Helps in
lunar laser ranging
Achievements & Key Events:
• August 23, 2023 – Successfully soft-landed near
the lunar south pole (first nation to do so)
• August 24, 2023 – Deployed Pragyan Rover
• August 25, 2023 – Temperature measurements
taken by ChaSTE experiment
• August 26, 2023 – Seismic activity detected on
the Moon by ILSA
• August 27, 2023 – Plasma density measured by
Langmuir Probe
• September 4, 2023 – Vikram Lander put into
sleep mode as sunlight decreased
• September 22, 2023 – Attempted reawakening
but remained unresponsive
Pragyan Rover
Key Features:
• Weight: 26 kg
• Mobility: 6-wheeled robotic rover
• Power Source: Solar panels
• Scientific Instruments:
o Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope
(LIBS) – Analyzes surface composition
o Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)
– Identifies lunar minerals
Achievements & Key Events:
• August 24, 2023 – Rover deployed and rolled
onto the Moon
• August 25, 2023 – First chemical analysis of the
Moon’s surface
• August 27, 2023 – Detected Sulfur (S),
Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe),
Chromium (Cr), Titanium (Ti), Manganese (Mn),
Silicon (Si), and Oxygen (O)
• August 30, 2023 – Rover encountered a crater
(4m wide) and re-routed
• September 2, 2023 – Pragyan went into sleep
mode due to sunset
• September 22, 2023 – Attempted reawakening,
but remained inactive
Scientific Discoveries and Achievements for India
1. India Becomes the First Country to Land on the
Lunar South Pole
• No other mission (Apollo, Luna, Chang’e) had
successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole.
• This region is believed to contain water ice,
crucial for future lunar colonies.
2. India Becomes the Fourth Country to Soft-Land
on the Moon
• After the USA, USSR (Russia), and China, India
joined the elite space-faring nations with lunar
landing capabilities.
3. Discovery of Sulfur on the Moon
• August 27, 2023 – Pragyan Rover’s LIBS
instrument confirmed Sulfur’s presence in the
lunar surface.
• This discovery suggests volcanic activity and
possible resources for future missions.
4. First Temperature Profile of the Lunar Surface
• August 25, 2023 – ChaSTE instrument measured
surface temperatures ranging from 50°C to -
10°C in different depths.
• This data is crucial for understanding the Moon’s
thermal behavior.
5. Seismic Activity Recorded on the Moon
• August 26, 2023 – Vikram Lander’s ILSA
instrument detected seismic movements, which
could help understand Moon’s internal structure.
6. Measurement of Plasma Density in the Lunar
Atmosphere
• August 27, 2023 – The Langmuir Probe recorded
low plasma density, helping future missions
design communication systems.
7. Demonstration of Indigenous Space Technology
• Chandrayaan-3 was 100% designed and built in
India, showcasing ISRO’s advanced space
technology.
• The mission’s low cost (~₹615 crore / $75M)
highlighted India’s cost-efficient space
program.
Impact on India and Future Missions
1. Strengthened India’s Global Space Leadership
• Boosted India’s reputation in deep space
exploration.
• Inspired collaborations with international space
agencies.
2. Encouragement for Future Lunar and
Interplanetary Missions
• Success of Chandrayaan-3 paves the way for:
o Chandrayaan-4 (Lunar Sample Return
Mission)
o Gaganyaan (India’s Crewed Space Mission,
2025)
o Shukrayaan (Venus Mission, 2028)
3. Inspired the Next Generation of Scientists and
Engineers
• Created interest in space science among
students and researchers.
• Encouraged new startups and private companies
in India's space sector.
4. Economic and Strategic Benefits
• Opened commercial opportunities in space
exploration and lunar mining.
• Strengthened India's self-reliance in space
technology.
Conclusion
Chandrayaan-3’s success marked a historic
achievement for India in space exploration. It proved
India’s capability in lunar landings, provided valuable
scientific data, and set the stage for future missions
to the Moon and beyond.
