About Chandrayaan:
Chandrayaan, derived from the Sanskrit words “Chandra” meaning Moon and “Yaan” meaning vehicle, refers to the ambitious lunar exploration missions undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Chandrayaan aims to unravel the mysteries of Earth’s closest celestial neighbor, the Moon, and enhance our understanding of lunar geology, mineralogy, and the Moon’s evolution.The first mission, Chandrayaan-1, was launched in 2008 and operated until 2009. The second mission, Chandrayaan-2, was launched in 2019 and consists of a lunar orbiter, a lander, and a rover.

The main scientific objectives of the Chandrayaan missions are to map and study the variations in lunar surface composition, as well as the location and abundance of lunar water. The missions have also helped to improve India’s space technology and expertise.

Here are some of the key achievements of the Chandrayaan missions:

(a) Chandrayaan-1 was the first Indian spacecraft to orbit the Moon.
(b) Chandrayaan-1 discovered evidence of water on the Moon.
(c) Chandrayaan-2 successfully soft-landed on the Moon.
(d) Chandrayaan-2 deployed the Pragyan rover, which is the first Indian rover to operate on the Moon.

The Chandrayaan missions have made significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon and have paved the way for future lunar exploration missions.

Here are some additional details about the two Chandrayaan missions
Chandrayaan-1:
(a) Launched on October 22, 2008
(b) Orbited the Moon for 10 months
(c) Carried 11 scientific instruments
(d) Discovered evidence of water on the Moon

Chandrayaan-2:
(a) Launched on July 22, 2019
(b) Orbiting the Moon
(c) Carries 8 scientific instruments
(d) Soft-landed on the Moon on September 7, 2019
(e) Deployed the Pragyan rover

About Chandrayaan 3

Chandrayaan 3, the highly anticipated next chapter in India’s lunar exploration program, is poised to build upon the achievements of its predecessors, Chandrayaan 1 and 2. It is being developed as a follow-up to Chandrayaan 2 with the primary goal of landing a rover on the lunar surface. The mission encompasses the development and deployment of a sophisticated lunar lander and rover, marking a significant milestone in India’s space exploration endeavors. The primary objective of Chandrayaan 3 is to further investigate the unexplored lunar south pole region, where important discoveries such as water ice deposits were made during the previous missions.

The spacecraft for Chandrayaan 3 will include an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. These components will work in tandem to collect data, capture images, and analyze the lunar surface. The mission will employ advanced scientific instruments to unravel the mysteries of the Moon and contribute to our knowledge of its origin and evolution.

Chandrayaan-3 launch date and Time
Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled to be launched on Friday, July 14, 2023, at 2:35 PM IST (08:05 UTC) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The spacecraft will be launched by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III), which is India’s heaviest launch vehicle.

Objectives of Chandrayaan 3
(a) To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface
(b) To demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and
(c) To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

Chandrayaan 3 signifies India’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration, fostering international collaboration, and making significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon. With each successive mission, ISRO continues to demonstrate its technological prowess, bolstering India’s position as a prominent player in the global space arena. Chandrayaan 3 represents a remarkable step forward in India’s space exploration journey, offering the promise of new discoveries and inspiring generations to reach for the stars.

Here are some of the key details of the Chandrayaan-3 mission:

Launch date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Launch time: 2:35 PM IST (08:05 UTC)
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India
Launch vehicle: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III)
Lander: Vikram
Rover: Pragyan
Mission objectives: Soft-land a lander and rover on the Moon’s South Pole; study the lunar surface and atmosphere; search for water ice on the Moon.