Chandrayaan-3 launch likely between July 12 and 19, Isro chief provides update on other space missions by India
Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman S Somnath on Wednesday said that the Chandrayaan-3, a part of India’s lunar mission, may be launched between July 12 and 19 this year.
Speaking to news agency ANI at a college in Kerala’s Kottayam, the Isro chief mentioned that the Chandrayaan has already arrived at the launch pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, from the U R Rao Satellite Centre.
He said that the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III will be used for this third edition of the Chandrayaan mission by India.
“The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is currently fully integrated. We have completed the testing and it has been mated with the rocket compartment… The launch window is currently scheduled between July 12 and 19, and we will select the earliest possible date, which could be the 12th, 13th, or 14th. The exact date will be announced once all tests are completed,” said the Isro chief.
He mentioned that final preparations are underway and will be completed by the end of this month. All components have been transported to the Sriharikota space centre, where the launch is scheduled to take place.
The Isro chief further stated that necessary corrections have been made in Chandrayaan-3, including hardware, structure, computers, software, and sensors, to ensure a smooth launch and avoid any potential issues.
What will Chandrayaan-3 have?
The propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 will transport the lander and rover configuration to a lunar orbit of 100 km. It includes a payload called Spectro-Polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth, which will be used to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.
“More fuel added and the landing legs have been strengthened. For producing more energy big solar panels have been fixed. And an additional sensor is also added. To measure its speed, a ‘Laser Doppler VelociMeter’ instrument, which was developed in the last year, has been added. We have also changed its algorithm and new software has been added to help Chandrayaan to land in another area if there is any failure at the scheduled spot,” said the ISRO chairman.
Update on Aditya L-1 mission
Providing an update on India’s first solar mission, the Isro chief said, “Satellites for the Aditya L-1 mission are being integrated, and the payloads developed by various agencies have reached the satellite center. Currently, they are undergoing integration within the satellite. The satellite will undergo a series of tests, including thermovac and vibration tests, among others. It is scheduled to be launched using a PSLV rocket, and we can expect the launch to take place by August 10.”
The Aditya L-1 mission is India’s first space-based mission aimed at studying the Sun. It is specifically designed to investigate the solar atmosphere, with a particular focus on the chromosphere and the corona.
ISRO chief about India joining Artemis Accord
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, India made the decision to join the United States’ Artemis Accord and agreed to collaborate on a joint mission to the International Space Station. The Artemis Accords is an international agreement that provides guidance for civil space exploration and promotes sustainable use.
Speaking on the Accord, the Isro chief said, “We are looking at Artemis Accord as a political engagement with the US. It is a statement of Intent that when the US is proposing collaborative work in the space sector, especially the exploration of outer planets in a very cordial atmosphere between different nations, we agree with that. So it has a big statement. We would like to work with the US, especially on technologies which are high-end and space is one of them. It will open opportunities for Indian industries who are working in the space sector to work with the US companies that are equally working in the space sector.”