The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing to make its second attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon with the launch of Chandrayaan-3 on Friday (July 14). Earlier this year, Chandrayaan-2's lander and rover crashed on the moon's surface due to difficulties discovered during the final stage of the descent.
If this mission achieves a successful "soft" landing, India will become only the fourth country to accomplish so, joining the United States, Russia, and China.
This explainer explains what is intended this time. But what is the greater goal of India's moon missions, and what are the components—the propulsion module, the lander module, and the rover—involved in helping ISRO "bring the moon closer to us," as the space agency puts it?
First, how do space missions work?
Any space mission consists of two components: the rocket, or carrier, and the spacecraft, which could be a satellite or any other cargo. The rocket's primary function is to transport the spacecraft into space. Most missions end with the rockets being destroyed. The spacecraft is still functioning normally.
According to NASA, "the launch of a spacecraft comprises a period of powered flight in the beginning, during which the vehicle rises above Earth's atmosphere and accelerates" with the assistance of a rocket.
The rocket is propelled by a propellant, which is a combination of fuel and oxidizers (which allow burning to occur), all of which are designed to provide enough energy to let the spaceship lift off. This powered flight will continue until the rocket's final stage burns out and the spacecraft separates. Ideally, the payload should have been delivered into the orbit of the planetary body that it is expected to reach by this time.
What are the C missions?
The missions, launched by India on October 22, 2008, are focused on lunar exploration. "The primary science objective of the mission was to prepare a three-dimensional atlas of both the near and far sides of the Moon, as well as to conduct chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface with high spatial resolution," ISRO stated at the time.
It completed almost 3,400 orbits around the moon and was operational for at least 312 days until August 29, 2009, when radio contact with the spacecraft was lost.
Read more: What are the different types of lunar missions?
However, the fact that it utilized indigenous, developed technology was a significant accomplishment. On November 14, 2008, a payload designated MIP (Moon Impact Probe) carried by the spacecraft was separated and struck the lunar South Pole in a controlled manner. India was then able to make discoveries linked to the identification of water (H2O) and hydroxyl (OH) on the lunar surface. The research also revealed that they are more abundant in the polar regions. It discovered ice in the Moon's northern polar area as well.
What happened in the case of C 2?
C 2 brought together an orbiter (to orbit the planetary body but not settle on it), a lander (to land on its surface), and a rover (to move on the surface) with the purpose of exploring the Moon's South. It was launched in July 2019 and was only partially successful because on September 7 of that year, its lander, and rover, crashed on the Moon's surface.
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