Unveiling the Lunar Frontier: A Comprehensive Guide to Chandrayaan-3's Equipment

June 29, 2023

Unveiling the Lunar Frontier: A Comprehensive Guide to Chandrayaan-3's Equipment

In order to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and wandering on the lunar surface, Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2. It is configured with Landers and Rovers. LVM3 will launch it out of SDSC SHAR in Sriharikota. The lander and rover configuration will be propelled by the propulsion module up to a 100 kilometer lunar orbit. To examine the spectral and Polarimetric data of Earth from the lunar orbit, the propulsion module is equipped with the Spectro-Polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload.

chandrayaan-3 mission elements

Lander payloads:

Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE),which measures temperature and thermal conductivity; The Langmuir Probe(LP) will estimate the plasma density and its changes, while the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity(ILSA) will measure the seismicity in the aera of the landing site. For lunar laser ranging research, a NASA passive Laser Retroreflector Array is available.

Chandrayaan-3 Lander

Rover payloads:

For determining the elemental composition close to the landing site, scientists use the laser-included breakdown spectroscope(LIBS) and the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS).

Chandrayaan-3 Rover

With the aim of researching and showcasing new technology necessary for interplanetary missions, Chandrayaan-3 is made up of an indigenous Lander module(LM), Propulsion module(PM), and Rover . The Lander will be able to soft land at a a chosen location on the moon and release the Rover, which will conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface while it is moving. There are scientific payloads on the lander and the Rover that will conduct lunar surface tests. The main job of PM is to transport the LM from injection into the launch vehicle final 100km circular polar orbit of the moon and then to release the LM from PM .In addition to this, the Propulsion Module carries a scientific payload that will operate when the Lander Module separates. The GSLV-MK3 launch vehicle has been selected for Chandrayaan-3 , and it will place the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit(EPO) measuring approximately 170 by 36500km. The experts of ISRO has announced that "GSLV-MK3 is going to take off on 13th July.2023 ,2:30 pm from SDSC .

Chandrayaan-3 Lander module views

THE MISSION OBJECTIVIES OF CHANDRAYAAN-3 ARE :

1.To demonstrate safe and soft landing on moon surface.

2.To demonstrate rover roving on moon.

3.To conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

To achieve mission objective's, several cutting-edge technologies , including those listed below:

1.Altimeters: Laser and RF based Altimeters.

2. Velocimeters :Laser Doppler Velocimeter and Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera.

3.Inertial Measurement: Laser Gyro based Inertial referencing and Accelerometer package.

4.ropulsion System : 800N Throttleable Liquid Engines, 58N attitude thrusters and Throttleable Engine Control Electronics.

5. Navigation, Guidance and Control (NGC): Powered Descent Trajectory design and associate software elements.

6.Hazard Detection and Avoidance: Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance camera and Processing Algorithm.

7.Landing leg Mechanism.

Several Lander specific tests have been prepared and successfully executed in order to showcase the aforementioned advanced technology in earthly conditions.

1. Integrated Cold Test - For the demonstration of integrated Sensors and Navigation performance test using helicopter as test platform.

2. Integrated Hot Test - For the demonstration of closed loop performance test with sensors, actuators and NGC using Tower crane as test platform.

3. Lander Leg mechanism performance test on a lunar simulant test bed simulating different down conditions.