India marked its inaugural National Space Day on Friday, August 23, 2023, commemorating a landmark achievement in its space exploration journey. Exactly a year prior, on this very day, India etched its name in history by becoming the first country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole. This historic feat was accomplished by the Chandrayaan-3 mission, a testament to the remarkable capabilities of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
In recognition of this momentous achievement, India has declared August 23 as National Space Day, a yearly celebration of the nation’s prowess in space exploration.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission marked a culmination of years of dedicated research and development following the setbacks faced by its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, in 2019. While Chandrayaan-2’s lander unfortunately crashed, the mission provided invaluable lessons and insights that proved crucial for the success of Chandrayaan-3.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14, 2023, with the LVM3 M4 rocket successfully placing the spacecraft into orbit. Under the leadership of S Somnath, ISRO carefully analyzed the data from Chandrayaan-2, incorporating the lessons learned to ensure the success of Chandrayaan-3. The agency meticulously planned the mission, including the crucial soft-landing procedure, and on August 23, 2023, history was made as the lander touched down on the lunar surface.
The mission continued to deliver remarkable results, with the rover successfully deploying from the lander on August 24, 2023. Since then, Chandrayaan-3 has conducted a series of groundbreaking experiments, leading to significant discoveries.
The ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) payload onboard the Vikram lander measured the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil, revealing a surprisingly high temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, exceeding initial estimations.
The LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) instrument onboard the rover, for the first time, provided in-situ measurements of the lunar surface near the south pole. These measurements confirmed the presence of sulfur, a discovery previously unconfirmed by instruments onboard orbiting spacecraft. The investigation regarding the presence of hydrogen on the Moon is ongoing.
The APXS (Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer) on the rover detected the presence of minor elements, including sulfur, along with major elements such as aluminum, silicon, calcium, and iron.
The RAMBHA-LP (Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe) payload on the Chandrayaan-3 Lander measured the lunar plasma environment near the south pole, revealing a relatively sparse plasma with a low electron density.
The ILSA (Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity) payload on the Chandrayaan 3 Lander successfully recorded vibrations caused by the rover’s movements, as well as a natural event on August 26, 2023, whose source is currently being investigated.
The Vikram lander also performed an unexpected but successful ‘hop experiment’, where it fired its engines, lifted itself by 40 cm, and landed safely a short distance away. This experiment showcased the potential for future sample return and human missions to the Moon.
The data collected by Chandrayaan-3 also supports the theory that the Moon was once covered in an ocean of magma.
As the Chandrayaan-3 mission continues, ISRO is already looking towards the future, with plans for the Chandrayaan-4 mission already underway. The success of Chandrayaan-3 has demonstrated India’s capabilities in reaching the Moon, and now the focus shifts to developing the technology required for returning samples and eventually, sending humans to the lunar surface.
