What is the main task of India's third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the Virtual Launch Control Centre' at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota.
Answer:
The primary and most crucial task of India's third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, was to achieve what its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, narrowly missed: a successful and safe soft landing on the lunar surface. Specifically, the mission aimed to demonstrate this capability in the challenging south polar region of the Moon, an area of immense scientific interest due to the potential presence of water ice.
This formidable task of a controlled lunar landing had previously been achieved by only three countries: the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China. With the success of Chandrayaan-3, India proudly joined this elite group.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was a marvel of engineering, comprising three main subsystems:
- Propulsion Module: This acted as the ferry, carrying the lander and rover configuration from Earth's orbit to a 100 km lunar orbit. After separating from the lander, it continued to orbit the Moon, carrying a scientific payload to study Earth from lunar orbit.
- Vikram Lander: This was the core of the mission, designed to execute the soft landing. It was equipped with stronger legs, additional sensors, and improved software to ensure a successful touchdown. It also carried instruments to study the lunar environment.
- Pragyan Rover: Housed inside the lander, this six-wheeled robotic vehicle was designed to roll out onto the lunar surface after landing. Its task was to explore the immediate vicinity and conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar soil and rocks.
The launch itself was flawlessly monitored thanks to the 'Virtual Launch Control Centre' (VLCC) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. The VLCC is a digital replica of the physical control centre at Sriharikota. It receives and processes real-time data from the launch vehicle, allowing scientists at VSSC to monitor the vehicle's health and performance simultaneously with the team at the launch site. This redundancy and parallel monitoring provide an extra layer of safety and analytical depth, contributing significantly to the mission's successful launch.
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Important Questions from GS3
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What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.
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What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.
What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate.
