In order to demonstrate end-to-end capability for safe landing and wandering on the lunar surface, Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2. It is configured with Landers and Rovers. LVM3 will launch it out of SDSC SHAR in Sriharikota. The lander and rover configuration will be propelled by the propulsion module up to a 100-kilometer lunar orbit. To examine the spectral and Polarimetric data of Earth from the lunar orbit, the propulsion module is equipped with the Spectro-Polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload.
Langmuir Probe (LP) to calculate the plasma density and its changes; Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure thermal conductivity and temperature; and the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) to measure seismicity around the landing site. For lunar laser ranging investigations, the space agency NASA has provided a passive Laser Retroreflector Array.
With the aim of researching and showcasing new technology necessary for interplanetary missions, Chandrayaan-3 is made up of an indigenous Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM), and Rover. The Lander will be able to soft land at a chosen location on the moon and release the Rover, which will conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface while it is moving. There are scientific payloads on the Lander and the Rover that will conduct lunar surface tests.
The main job of PM is to transport the LM from injection into the launch vehicle to the final 100 km circular polar orbit of the moon and then to release the LM from PM. In addition to this, the Propulsion Module carries a scientific payload that will operate when the Lander Module separates. The GSLV-Mk3 launch vehicle has been designated for Chandrayaan-3, and it will place the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) with a dimension of approximately 170 x 36500 kilometers.
The goals of Chandrayaan-3's mission are:
1) To show how to land safely and softly on the lunar surface
2) To show off rover wandering on the moon; and 3) To carry out in-situ research.
Several cutting-edge technologies, including those listed below, are present in Lander to help with mission goals.
1) Altimeters: Altimeters based on RF and laser
2) Velocimeters: Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera and Laser Doppler Velocimeter
3) Laser-gyro-based inertial referencing and accelerator package for inertial measurement
4) Throttleable Engine Control Electronics, 800N Throttleable Liquid Engines, and 58N Attitude Thrusters
5) Powered Descent Trajectory Design and Associating Software Components for Navigation, Guidance, and Control (NGC)
6) Hazard identification and mitigation: Lander Hazard Identification and Mitigation Algorithm for Camera and Processing
7) Landing Leg Mechanism, number 7
Several Lander-specific tests have been designed and successfully executed to showcase the aforementioned advanced technology in real-world settings.
The Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) payload will measure changes in the density of charged particles near the lunar surface.
The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) will ascertain the elemental content of lunar soil, while the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) will measure the chemical composition and infer the mineralogical composition of the moon's surface.
Before sunset, Chandrayaan-3 will launch its lunar lander to the moon's south pole at 70 degrees latitude in order to avoid the -232 degree Celsius nighttime temperatures on the moon.
On August 23, at 5:47 p.m., the spacecraft will touch down on the lunar surface.
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