Get to know the details of Moon Launched Vehicle (MLV) 'Chandrayaan'

1. CHANDRAYAAN- PROMISES AND CONCERNS
Chandryaan-1 is India’s first mission to the moon launched by India's National space agency namely ISRO (India's
Space Research Organization). The unmanned lunar exploration includes a lunar orbiter and an impactor. India
launched the spacecraft by a modified version of the PSLV called PSLV C11 on oct. 22, 2008 from Satish
Dhawan Space center, Sriharikota, Nellore District, Andra Pradesh about 80 Km North of Chennai at 6:22 A.M.
The mission is a major boost to India's space programme, as India competes with Asian Nations of China and
Japan in exploring the moon. The vehicle was successfully inserted into orbit on 8th November 2008.
On November 14th 2008, the moon impact probe (MIP) separated from the moonorbiting Chandrayaan at 4:06 PM and impacted the lunar South Pole in a controlled
manner, making India the 4th Country to place its flag on the moon. The moon impact
probe impacted near the crater Shackeleton, at the lunar South Pole, at 4:31 PM on 14th
November 2008 releasing sub-surface debris that could be analyzed for presence of water
ice. The estimated cost for the project is 80 million US Dollars.
The Remote Sensing Lunar Satellite had a
weight of 1380 Kg at launch and 675 Kg in Lunar Orbit and carries high
resolution Remote Sensing equipment for visible, near TR and soft and hard Xray frequencies. Over a two year period, it is intended to survey the lunar surface
to produce a complete of its chemical characteristics and three dimensional
topography. The Polar Regions are of special interest and they might contain ice.
The Lunar mission carries five ISRO Payloads and six Payloads from other
international space agencies including NASA, ESA and Bulgarian Aerospace
Agency, which were carried free of cost.
PROMISES AND CONCERNS OF CHANDRAYAAN
The various promises of Chandrayaan mission include:
1. To design, develop, launch and orbit a spacecraft round the moon using an Indian made launch vehicle
2. Conduct scientific experiments using instrument on board the spacecraft which will yield the following
results:
a) Preparation of a 3D Atlas with spatial and altitude resolution of (5-10m) of both the near and far
side of the moon.
b) Chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface of high spatial resolution, mapping
particularly the chemical elements: Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Calcium, Iron, Titanium,
Radon, Uranium and Thorium to increase the scientific knowledge.
c) The impact of a sub-satellite (MIP) on the surface of the moon as a fore-runner to future soft
landing missions.
3. some other scientific areas of study for the orbiter are:a) High resolution mineralogical and chemical mapping or imaging of the permanently shadowed
north and south Polar Regions.
b) Search for a sub-surface or surface water ice on the moon, especially at the lunar poles.
c) Identification of chemicals in lunar highland rocks.
d) Chemical Stratigraphy of lunar crust by Remote Sensing of the central uplands of large lunar
craters, and of the South Pole Aitkin Region (SPAR), where interior material may be expected.
e) To map the height variation of the lunar surface features.
f) Observation of X-ray spectrum greater than 10 Kev and Stereographic coverage of most of the
moon’s surface with 5 m resolution.
g) To provide new insights in understanding the moon’s origin and evolution.
The mission would also strive to unravel the hitherto unknown features of the moon. A few
of the points of research which Chandrayaan-1 has promised to unravel, related with our most fascinating neighbor
are as follows:
THE MYSTERY OF THE MOON
The formation of solar system started with a chaotic process which later became organized and
harmonious. In this every planet moves in its orbit without disturbing any other planet. In this whole process the
formation of moon around the earth is enigmatic. Even after half-century of exploration and study, our

2. Understanding about formation of moon is incomplete. Resolving this mystery is vital for understanding our
origin. The most widely accepted hypothesis called Giant Impact Hypothesis, on formation of moon is yet to be
established.
The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was almost lost Easter this yea, ISRO revealed, as
the star tracking system overheated and malfunctioned. The system helps to determine and
maintain the spacecraft’s orientation. Engineers were able to patch in the gyroscopes and
another instruments to help find the spacecraft, but they are not sure how long this jury
rigged system will work.
ISRO is also planning a second version of Chandrayaan named Chandrayaan-2 (a
motorized rover in 2012)
Some critics regard the space programme as a waste of resources in a country
where millions still lack basic services.
9/25/2010
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MOHD DANISH
MOHD DANISH
Signed by: MOHD DANISH
Lunar Exploration