Chandrayaan-3: ISRO Set for Mid-July Launch of India’s Third Lunar Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made a significant announcement on Wednesday regarding the highly anticipated Chandrayaan-3 mission, marking India’s third lunar exploration venture.

ISRO Chairman, S Somanath, revealed that the spacecraft for Chandrayaan-3 has been fully integrated and undergone extensive testing. The launch window for the mission is set between July 12 and July 19, with the exact date to be finalized after completion of all necessary tests. Emphasizing the agency’s commitment, Somanath assured that the launch will take place as soon as possible.

The forthcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, utilizing the reliable launch vehicle, mark III.

Representative image: Chandrayaan 2 | Image credit – ISRO

Comprising an indigenous Lander Module (LM), a Propulsion Module (PM), and a rover, this mission aims to develop and demonstrate new technologies required for interplanetary missions. Chandrayaan-3 serves as a follow-on to its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, which encountered a landing failure on the moon’s surface four years ago.

Several modifications have been incorporated into the Chandrayaan-3 mission, including the use of four motors instead of five, among other changes. The names of the lander and rover for this mission have not been disclosed yet, raising speculation that ISRO may retain the names of the earlier lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyan.

A significant addition to Chandrayaan-3 is the inclusion of the Spectro-polarimetry of the Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload. This payload aims to conduct extensive studies and gather valuable spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

The primary objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, as outlined by ISRO, include achieving a safe and soft landing on the Moon, demonstrating the rover’s capabilities on the lunar surface, and conducting in-situ scientific observations. Additionally, this mission will focus on exploring the far side of the moon, offering invaluable insights into lunar conditions.