Kottayam, NFAPost: India’s much-anticipated lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is set to launch between July 12 and 19, as confirmed by S Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Speaking at a workshop and space exhibition at Kothavara St Xavier’s College, Somanath revealed that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has already arrived at the launch pad in Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre after being transported from the U R Rao Satellite Centre.
The ISRO chairman stated that final preparations for the launch are currently underway and are expected to be completed by the end of this month. The primary launch vehicle for this mission, the LVM-3 rocket, is also in the process of assembly, with all necessary components having reached Sriharikota. The rocket assembly is scheduled to be finalized by the end of June, followed by the integration of Chandrayaan-3 with the rocket. Subsequently, a series of tests will be conducted.
Somanath emphasized that the launch window for Chandrayaan-3 falls between July 12 and 19. While it is possible to delay the launch, doing so would result in fuel losses. Therefore, the mission will proceed during this window only if all tests are successfully completed.
In order to avoid any complications during the upcoming launch, various improvements have been made to Chandrayaan-3’s hardware, structure, computers, software, and sensors. Notable enhancements include increased fuel capacity, strengthened landing legs, and the addition of larger solar panels for enhanced energy production. Furthermore, a “Laser Doppler VelociMeter” instrument, developed last year, has been incorporated to measure the spacecraft’s speed accurately. The mission’s algorithm has also been modified, and new software has been implemented to enable Chandrayaan-3 to land in an alternative area if the scheduled landing spot experiences any issues.
With these updates and preparations, the ISRO is committed to ensuring the success of Chandrayaan-3’s upcoming mission, pushing the boundaries of India’s space exploration endeavours.
