India celebrated a major milestone in space exploration as the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission successfully launched from Sriharikota at 2:35 PM. This achievement comes four years after its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, faced an unfortunate setback during its soft landing attempt in September 2019. Chandrayaan-3, a high-profile launch for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to accomplish a challenging feat: a soft landing on the Moon’s surface. With its success, India joins an elite group of nations including the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China. Let’s delve into the reasons behind the Chandrayaan-2 lander failure and explore the complexities of lunar landings.
Chandrayaan-2 encountered a hurdle when the lander lost communication with ground stations at an altitude of 2.1 kilometers from the lunar surface. Soft landings, as described by former ISRO chairman K Sivan, are accompanied by “15 minutes of terror” due to the precision required for the rocket engine to fire. This delicate operation aims to safely lower the lander carrying the rover onto the Moon’s atmosphere-less surface. The absence of an atmosphere complicates the process, contributing to the fact that only 37% of attempted soft landings have succeeded thus far.
Landing on the Moon presents numerous challenges due to its unique conditions. The Moon’s reduced gravity, sparse atmosphere, and abundant dust create difficulties during descent. While the lunar south pole holds promise for its water ice deposits, it also poses hazards like rocks and craters, making it challenging to identify safe landing sites within shadowed and dark areas.
Deep-space communication is another formidable obstacle. The Moon’s distance from Earth, limited on-board resources, and weak radio signals amidst heavy background noise require the use of large antennas to pick up signals. Furthermore, predicting the intersection of the Moon’s orbital path with that of Chandrayaan-3 accurately and in advance is crucial due to the Moon’s continuous motion.
The Moon’s uneven mass distribution and variable gravity add further complexity. Charting the descent trajectory during a soft landing necessitates accounting for these gravitational variations. Additionally, the negatively charged lunar dust presents challenges, as it adheres to surfaces and can disrupt solar panels and sensor performance. Harsh temperature fluctuations also make lunar environments hostile for lander and rover operations.
Despite these formidable challenges, India’s determination and expertise have propelled the Chandrayaan-3 mission to success. By successfully achieving a soft landing, India’s space program has demonstrated its capabilities and resilience in the face of adversity. The mission’s triumph marks a significant step forward in India’s lunar exploration and cements its position as a prominent player in the realm of space exploration.
