Chandrayaan-3’s Successful Lunar Landing at 6:04 PM Today: Nationwide Havans and Global Well-Wishes
India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is all set to land its lander “Vikram” on the lunar South Pole at 6:04 PM today. The momentous event will mark a significant milestone for India’s space exploration journey.
The Vikram lander will descend onto the lunar surface, followed by the deployment of the Pragyan rover. The successful execution of this mission would establish India as the first country to achieve such a feat.
ISRO Chairman’s Confidence and Preparations for the Landing
ISRO Chairman, S. Somanath, expressed unwavering confidence in Vikram’s landing, stating that even if all sensors fail and algorithms malfunction, Vikram will still land safely, given that the algorithm works as expected.
The meticulous preparations ensure that even if both engines of Vikram fail, it will still be capable of achieving a successful landing.
PM Modi’s Virtual Participation in the Live Event
The live landing event is scheduled to commence at 5:20 PM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually participate in the event from South Africa, where he is currently located.
The success of the mission has garnered not only national but also international attention, with prayers and havans being conducted at various places for its success.
Stages of the Landing Process
The lunar landing process comprises four critical phases, each with its specific objectives and challenges:
Rough Breaking Phase: Vikram will be 750 km away from the landing site, with a speed of 1.6 km/sec. This phase, lasting 690 seconds, will calibrate Vikram’s sensors and adjust its horizontal and vertical speeds.
Altitude Hold Phase: Vikram will capture images of the lunar surface and compare them with existing ones. This phase has been reduced to 10 seconds from Chandrayaan-2’s 38 seconds. Horizontal and vertical velocities will be adjusted during this phase.
Fine Breaking Phase: Lasting 175 seconds, Vikram’s speed will be reduced to 0, and it will achieve a vertical position. It will reach an altitude of 800 to 1300 meters from the lunar surface, capturing more images and ensuring its readiness for the final descent.
Terminal Descent Phase: In the next 131 seconds, Vikram will ascend to 150 meters above the lunar surface. The lander’s hazard detection camera will capture images, and the go/no-go test will be conducted. If successful, Vikram will finally touch down on the Moon’s surface.
Post-Landing Activities and Mission Phases
After touchdown, Vikram will communicate its status back to Earth. The rover Pragyan will be deployed from the ramp of the lander onto the lunar surface. As a symbolic gesture, Vikram will leave behind the Indian national emblem and ISRO logo on the Moon’s surface.
Images taken by Vikram and Pragyan will be transmitted to Earth, marking a significant achievement in India’s lunar exploration journey.
Chandrayaan-3’s Remarkable Journey So Far
The Chandrayaan-3 mission can be divided into three phases:
Earth to Lunar Orbit: Starting from Earth’s orbit, Chandrayaan-3 progressively raised its orbit through a series of maneuvers until it reached the intended lunar orbit.
Transition to Lunar Orbit: Chandrayaan-3 shifted from Earth’s orbit to lunar orbit on the nights of July 31 and August 1.
Lunar Orbit to Landing: After transitioning to lunar orbit, Chandrayaan-3 gradually adjusted its orbit until the Vikram lander successfully separated from the propulsion module. The lander then underwent a series of debuting operations to fine-tune its position and readiness for landing.
As Chandrayaan-3 approaches its momentous lunar landing, the world awaits in anticipation, and India stands on the brink of making history once again in space exploration.
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Image Courtesy: Google