August 24 Could Be A Historic Day For India; Know Why?

The collective prayers of a nation of 140 billion will undoubtedly be for the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission as it lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 2.35 PM on Friday.

This mission will aim to attempt a soft landing on the moon and carry out scientific exploration to unearth the secrets of our natural satellites.

However, for this to happen, the lander has to touch down on the moon’s surface, and this is the most challenging part of the entire mission.

Chandrayaan-2 had unsuccessfully attempted to land on September 2, 2019, losing contact with the mission control here on Earth just 2.1 km from the surface of the moon.

This time around, ISRO has tied up all the loose ends to make it a fail-safe mission, carrying extra fuel and expanding the radius of the landing site. The landing is tentatively scheduled to happen either on August 23 or 24 on the moon. If ISRO becomes successful in accomplishing this mission, it will not only make India a space superpower and make it to the select few countries who have achieved this feat but will also help it demonstrate its technological achievements to the world.

After reaching the moon's surface, the lunar lander, named 'Vikram' in honour of Vikram Sarabhai, will begin its mission by deploying four scientific payloads. These instruments will investigate the temperature of the moon's surface and explore its subterranean features.

Accompanying the lander is the rover known as 'Pragyan.' This advanced vehicle will navigate the lunar terrain while conducting chemical and visual examinations. Through these tests, Pragyan will gain insights into the composition and characteristics of the moon's surface. Its scientific exploration will involve a combination of chemical analysis and visual observations as it roams across the lunar landscape.