Chandrayaan-3 mission: Why ISRO wants to explore the Moon’s south pole
- July 11, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Chandrayaan-3 mission: Why ISRO wants to explore the Moon’s south pole
Subject : Science and technology
Section: Space technology
Concept :
- Chandrayaan-3 is India’s upcoming lunar mission, which aims to be the world’s first mission to soft-land near the lunar south pole.
- Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission and is a follow-up of Chandrayaan-2 (2019) which aimed to land a rover on the lunar South Pole. The Mission will have three major modules- the
- Propulsion module ( will carry the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit)
- Lander module (capability to soft land and deploy Rover)
- Rover (will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface)
Challenges of landing on the South Pole:
- Previous spacecraft have mostly landed near the equatorial region of the Moon, a few degrees latitude north or south of the lunar equator.
- Landing near the equator is easier and safer due to the hospitable terrain, smooth surface, absence of steep slopes, and ample sunlight for solar-powered instruments.
- The lunar south pole, on the other hand, presents a challenging terrain with extreme temperatures and areas that are in permanent shadow, receiving no sunlight.
Why ISRO wants to explore the Moon’s south pole?
- Water Resources: The south pole region is believed to have water molecules in substantial amounts, possibly trapped as ice in the permanently shadowed craters.
- Exploring and confirming the presence of water is essential for future human missions and the potential utilization of lunar resources.
- Scientific Discoveries: The extreme environment and the presence of permanently shadowed regions provide a preserved record of the Moon’s history and the early Solar System.
- Clues to Earth’s History: The Moon is thought to have formed from debris generated by a giant impact between a Mars-sized object and the early Earth.
- By studying the lunar south pole, scientists can gain insights into the materials and conditions that existed during the formation of the Earth-Moon system.
- Global Collaborations: ISRO-NASA successfully confirmed the presence of water from the data taken by Chandrayaan-1. Indo-Japan collaboration, LUPEX aims to send a lander and rover to the Moon’s south pole around 2024.
- Technological Advancements: By undertaking missions to this region, ISRO can develop and demonstrate innovative technologies for soft landing, navigation, resource utilization, and long-duration operations that can be applied in future space missions.
About LVM3:
- Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) (previously known as GSLV-MK III) is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellants S200 strap-ons on its sides and a core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.
- The vehicle is also dubbed as one of the heaviest for its ability to carry satellites up to 8,000 kg.