Chandrayaan 3 Mission: ISRO reveals lunar lander's progress towards moon

Bangalore, August 21: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) unveiled the latest images from the Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan 3 mission, showcasing its approach to the Moon's landing site.

In a microblogging site X post, ISRO shared images captured by the Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera (LHDAC), revealing the moon's far side area two days before the landing.

"This camera assists in identifying a safe landing area—free from boulders or deep trenches—during descent," ISRO explained.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Here are the images of
Lunar far side area
captured by the
Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera (LHDAC).

This camera that assists in locating a safe landing area -- without boulders or deep trenches -- during the descent is developed by ISRO… pic.twitter.com/rwWhrNFhHB — ISRO (@isro) August 21, 2023

The LHDAC camera was developed under ISRO's guidance at the Space Applications Centre (SAC).

Dr K Rajeev, Director of the Space Physics Laboratory, emphasized the significance of the upcoming stages, particularly the powered descent, navigation, and gradual descent to the lunar surface. "That's the most crucial phase," he highlighted.

Dr Rajeev also provided insights into the mission's components, highlighting the lander and rover. The rover, currently within the lander, holds two vital payloads: Alpha Particle Excite Spectrometer (APES) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIPSE).

These instruments aim to analyze surface composition, offering vital data about lunar minerals such as magnesium, aluminum, iron, and more.

Within the lander, four essential payloads are operational. Two are from the Space Physics Laboratory at the Sarabhai Space Center, one from URSC, and the fourth is a retroreflector designed for moon-to-earth ranging.

Notably, a seismograph within these payloads will measure lunar seismic activities, enhancing understanding of the moon's geological processes.

Rambha LP (Lemur Pro) will analyze plasma density in the lunar atmosphere, playing a significant role in the field of physics. ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) is assigned the task of measuring the thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith, crucial for potential future space base construction.

ES Padma Kumar, Director of ISRO's Internal System Unit (IISU), detailed Chandrayaan 3's pre-landing phase.

“The spacecraft currently orbits at around 110 x 25 km. From here, it will initiate its descent, projected to take approximately 15 to 16 minutes. The descent is set to begin on Wednesday, as per ISRO's plan," Kumar stated.

Kumar emphasized the trajectory's adherence as pivotal for a successful landing. As ISRO approaches the lunar surface, anticipation grows among scientists, space enthusiasts, and the global community.

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- ANI

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