Chandrayaan 3: The Third Lunar Mission Successfully Mated with Launch Vehicle (LVM3)

Posted By: Shweta Khandal

Posted On: July 6, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully joined the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft with the launch vehicle, LVM3, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. They announced this on July 5 through a tweet. Chandrayaan-3 is expected to launch between July 13 and July 19.

🚀LVM3-M4/Chandrayaan-3🛰️ Mission:

Today, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 is mated with LVM3. pic.twitter.com/4sUxxps5Ah

— ISRO (@isro) July 5, 2023

The spacecraft costs around 615 crore and is India’s third mission to the moon. Its goal is to land the lander successfully on the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-3 is the next mission after Chandrayaan-2, which was launched on July 22, 2019. Unfortunately, Chandrayaan-2 failed because its lander and rover crashed on the moon’s surface on September 6, 2019.

Why Chandrayaan is integrated with LVM 3

To send a spacecraft to space, we need really powerful rockets called Launching Vehicles like LVM 3. These rockets provide the energy needed to overcome the Earth’s gravity and lift the spacecraft into space. The Chandrayaan 3 mission is all about studying different things on the moon.

#ISRO

Today, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the encapsulated assembly containing the #Chandrayaan3 module fully integrated with the LVM3 launch vehicle.

Wishing @ISRO all the best in their captivating mission to the Moon. pic.twitter.com/DbontB3Fj8

— Col Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) July 5, 2023

They want to learn about its properties, like how it feels, what it’s made of, and the environment there. They’re sending special tools like a rover and a lander to explore the moon’s surface and collect data. Chandrayaan 3 has been tested a lot to make sure it can handle the strong vibrations during launch.

The lander for this mission has been modified with some changes, like using four motors instead of five. They’ve also added a special payload called SHAPE to study Earth from the moon’s orbit.

The Chandrayaan 3 mission has three main goals: successfully landing the lander on the moon’s surface, making sure the rover can move around on the moon, and conducting scientific studies of the moon’s surface.

The Technological Marvel: LVM3

The Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) is an advanced launch vehicle developed by ISRO. It is designed to carry heavier payloads and is capable of launching Chandrayaan 3 into space. The LVM3 incorporates cutting-edge technologies and engineering prowess to ensure a successful and efficient launch. With its powerful engines and robust structure, the LVM3 plays a vital role in enabling Chandrayaan 3 to embark on its lunar journey.

The Objectives of Chandrayaan 3

Chandrayaan 3 aims to achieve several objectives that will contribute to our understanding of the moon and its resources. Some of the key objectives include:

1. Conducting high-resolution remote sensing studies of the lunar surface.
2. Mapping the distribution of various elements and minerals on the moon.
3. Investigating the presence of water and other volatiles in the lunar exosphere.
4. Studying the lunar topography and geology in greater detail.
5. Collecting valuable data for future manned missions to the moon.