In a major development for India’s space program, Chandrayaan-3, the country’s next lunar mission, is set to be launched from the Sriharikota spaceport later this week. The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 will make India the fourth nation to achieve a soft landing on the surface of the Moon.
Speaking exclusively to a news agency, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, highlighted the significant progress in India’s space expertise under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that the recent agreements signed during PM Modi’s visit to the United States demonstrated India’s emergence as an equal collaborator in the field of space exploration, even alongside countries that began their space journey long before India.
Union Minister @DrJitendraSingh says, Chandrayaan-3, scheduled to be launched from Sriharikota this week, will make India the fourth country to land its Spacecraft on the surface of Moon
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Dr. Singh explained that Chandrayaan-3 is a continuation of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, with the primary objective of showcasing India’s capability in soft landing and roving on the lunar surface. The mission involves a complex profile, including precise maneuvers to enter the Moon’s orbit. Following a successful landing, the rover, equipped with six wheels, is expected to operate for a duration of 14 days on the lunar surface. The rover will provide valuable images through its multiple cameras, enhancing our understanding of the Moon.
Dr. Singh attributed the success of India’s space program to the supportive environment created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has made groundbreaking decisions such as unlocking the space sector for public-private partnerships. He noted that, based on the current trajectory of growth, India’s space sector could become a 1 Trillion US Dollar economy in the near future.
The Minister outlined three primary objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission: demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, showcasing rover mobility on the Moon, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments.
Dr. Singh reminisced about the groundbreaking achievement of Chandrayaan-1, the inaugural mission of the Chandrayaan series, which confirmed the existence of water on the lunar surface. This revelation captivated the global space community, including premier space agencies like NASA, who utilized this information for further experimentation. Chandrayaan-3 is expected to operate at an even higher level, utilizing ISRO’s Launch Vehicle Mark-3 for its launch.
Dr. Singh expressed the tremendous excitement and anticipation across the country for the launch of Chandrayaan-3, particularly due to the previous mission’s setback when the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft encountered a technical issue during its descent on 6 September 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally witnessed the event at Sriharikota. Highlighting the improvements made in Chandrayaan-3, Dr. Singh emphasized that the lander’s robustness has been enhanced through several modifications. These changes have undergone extensive ground tests and simulations using test beds to ensure their effectiveness.
The lander and rover module of Chandrayaan-3 are equipped with payloads designed to provide valuable data to the scientific community regarding the chemical and elemental composition of lunar soil and rocks. As the countdown to the launch of Chandrayaan-3 begins, the nation eagerly awaits another historic moment in India’s space exploration journey, showcasing its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological advancement.
(With inputs from PIB)
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