India’s Chandrayaan 3 Lunar Exploration Program successfully lifts lunar lander and probe with rocket

New Delhi — Scientists on India’s space program exploded with joy Friday as a giant rocket roared through the clouds and carried an unmanned spacecraft on a mission to land on the far side of the moon. rice field. The LVM3-M4 heavy lift rocket safely carried away the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft with its lunar lander and small probe from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, southern India, at 2:35 pm local time on Friday. rice field.

Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said it was a “textbook launch” as the rocket successfully put Chandrayaan 3 into orbit.

Chandrayaan 3 is the country’s third lunar exploration mission, and scientists hope to make a soft landing near the south pole of the largely unexplored moon in the coming months.

It will be India’s second attempt to land on the moon. India’s second lunar rover in 2019 Chandrian-2, Failure, A lander crashes on the moon. The Chandrayaan-2 probe is still in lunar orbit and continues to send data on the lunar atmosphere today. That information will be used by Chandrayaan 3 in its current mission.

The spacecraft’s trip to the moon will take about 40 days, with a landing scheduled for August 23. A successful landing would add India to an elite club currently made up of just three countries: the United States, Russia and China. Successfully landed on the moon.

If the lander safely lands, the spacecraft will spend a lunar day, or about 14 days on Earth, exploring the lunar surface, collecting scientific data on the composition of the nearest celestial body.

After the launch, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Chandrayaan 3 marks a new chapter in India’s space journey. Soaring high, raising the dreams and ambitions of all Indians.” “This momentous achievement is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists. We salute their spirit and ingenuity.”

India’s first mission 13 years ago was a resounding success, with scientists announcing that an Indian lunar orbiter had detected water molecules near the moon’s south pole. This was the first evidence of water there, and the discovery surprised scientists around the world and raised hopes that one day the lunar surface could sustain human life.

India’s moon mission is seen as a sign of the country’s growing space capabilities.

ISRO Director Sledara Panicker Somanath said the space agency had studied data from the previous crash and used it to improve the lander.

The total weight of Chandra Yarn-3 is about 4.3 tons. The lander, called Vikram, weighs about 3,300 pounds and carries a probe called Pragyan, which weighs less than 60 pounds.

“The rover carries five instruments focused on studying what’s happening beneath the surface of the moon by examining the physical features of the moon’s surface, the near-surface atmosphere, and crustal activity. ‘, Somanath told the Indian press. . “Hopefully we’ll find something new.”

ISRO said the lander and rover are fitted with sensors and other high-tech equipment designed to conduct experiments and experiments. collect data We will investigate the chemical composition of the lunar soil, measure seismic activity, and measure the thermal properties of the lunar surface near the South Pole.

Millions of Indians watched the rocket’s spectacular launch live on TV and social media platforms.many explained While calling it a “moment of pride, glory and joy,” one person said it was “obtained.”goosebumps“I was watching a rocket launch.