Chandrayan, India’s historic moon mission,
is launched on October 22. The mission is expected
to have an operational life of about 2 years.
Chardrayaan-1 is the first Indian Mission to the
Moon devoted to high-resolution remote sensing of
the lunar surface features in visible, near infrared,
X-ray and low energy gamma ray regions. This will
be accomplished using several payloads already selected
for the mission. In addition a total of about 10
kg payload weight and 10 W powers are earmarked
for proposals, which are now solicited.
The main objective of this mission was to understand
the origin of the moon. Apart from conducting tests
on the surface of the moon, the mission also intends
to conduct tests on the poles of the moon. Scientists
are planning to land a rover on the moon to carry
out chemical analysis of the lunar surface.
Chandrayan, which is being launched at a total
cost of Rs 386 crore, is also scheduled to carry
11 payloads, which would include those from the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Sweden,
Japan, Germany and Bulgaria.
Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s
Satellite Centre Dr T K Alex pointed out that the
technology used for the Chandrayan mission is ten
times better than other countries. Moreover, ISRO
excels in remote sensing and imaging and hence the
moon can be photographed from a close range of five
metres from the ground.
The mission aims to cover the entire moon and gather
as much information as possible.
Chandrayan could provide important leads on the
possibility of human habitation on the moon.
Main objectives of Mission
· Carry out high resolution mapping of topographic
features in 3D, distribution of various minerals
and elemental chemical species including radioactive
nuclides covering the entire lunar surface using
a set of remote sensing payloads. The new set of
data would help in unraveling mysteries about the
origin and evolution of solar system in general
and that of the moon in particular.
· Realize the mission goal of harnessing
the science payloads, lunar craft and the launch
vehicle with suitable ground support system including
DSN station, integration and testing, launching
and achieving lunar orbit of ~100 km, in-orbit operation
of experiments, communication/ telecom and telemetry
data reception, quick look data and archival for
scientific utilization by identified group of scientists.
Specific areas of study
High resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging
of permanently shadowed north and south polar regions
Search for surface or sub-surface water-ice on the
moon, specially at lunar pole
Identification of chemical end members of lunar high
land rocks
Chemical stratigraphy of lunar crust by remote sensing
of central upland of large lunar craters, South Pole
Aitken Region (SPAR) etc., where interior material
may be expected
To map the height variation of the lunar surface features
along the satellite track
Observation of X-ray spectrum greater than 10 keV
and stereographic coverage of most of the moon's surface
with 5 m resolution, to provide new insights in understanding
the moon's origin and evolution
Six
countries, including the United States, are directly
involved in the project, which will cost an estimated
3.86 billion rupees ($80.8 million). Despite limited
funding, India operates an extensive space programme
consisting of launch vehicles, satellites and data-processing
centers. At least 16 Indian satellites currently orbit
the earth, supporting telecommunications, TV broadcasting,
earth observation, weather forecasting, remote education
and healthcare.
India's constellation of seven earth-observation satellites
is the largest of its kind in the world, but its space
programme lags behind its Asian rival China, which
in 2003 became only the third nation after the United
States and the former Soviet Union to launch a man
into space aboard its own rocket.
