Chandrayaan-1 moon probe ready for launch
Sometime between October 19 and November 8, 2008, India is all set to take its first steps beyond the geo-stationary Orbit, when Chandrayaan-1 transits to the moon.
New information: Chandrayaan-1 has found water on the moon.
Latest: First Photos by Chandrayaan 1
Chandrayaan-1 launch successful, lunar orbit insertion next
Photo: Chandrayaan 1
After being cleared by the Government of India five years ago, and after repeated delays, Chandrayaan-1 is finally ready for launch on October 22, 2008. If the weather conditions are not favorable, the Chandrayaan-1 late October 2008 launch will be postponed to November or December 2008 when the orbital plane of the moon will again be aligned for a fuel efficient transfer.
Chandrayaan-1 was built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) along with partners such as HAL and carries 11 payloads, five from India and six from International agencies. This includes three from the European Space Agency (ESA) , one from the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency (BSA), and two from NASA.
Chandrayaan-1: Launch Details
Graphic: Chandrayaan 1 launch and onward
The Chandrayaan-1 mission includes an Orbiter and an Impactor. This means that the Orbiter of Chandrayaan-1 will enter a low orbit around the Moon; while the Impactor will be deliberately crashed onto the Moon. Chandrayaan-1’s impactor, aptly called the Moon Impact probe (MIP), was designed by ISRO, and contains three instruments: a high resolution mass spectrometer, an S-Band altimeter, and a video camera.
PSLV
While it may seem to be reckless as well as a waste of resources, a impactor can provide a lot of useful information. On impacting the moon at over 7000 km/h, it will blow up a giant plume, which can even be observed from the earth, and analysed to find its composition.
Chandrayaan-1 will weigh 1304 kg at launch and 590kg in lunar orbit.
Chandrayaan-1 will be launched by a PSLV-XL, which is a modified, pumped-up version of the ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre ( SDSC), Sriharikota, India.
Chandrayaan-1 has four stages. The first stage is one of the largest solid propellant boosters built containing 138 metric tonnes of propellant binded in HTPB, which is a rubber-like material. This is the same propellant that was used as fuel in the hybrid rocket engines of SpaceShipOne.
The launch vehicle will put Chandrayaan-1 into a highly elliptical earth orbit with an apogee (point in orbit farthest from Earth) of 24000 km and Perigee (point of closest approach to Earth) of 240 km. Then the Chandrayaan-1 will do a mid-course correction burn that will put it on a Lunar Transfer Trajectory. Lunar encounter happens after a five-and-a-half day cruise of nearly 3,86,000 km through space.
Chandrayaan-1 then points its engine towards its direction of travel, and a little before reaching peri-selene (point closest to moon), burns its engines to perform Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI). This effectively slows down the Chandrayaan-1 enough to let it get captured by the Moon’s gravity. Chandrayaan-1 thus reaches a near circular lunar orbit, around 100km from its surface. This orbit will effectively be nearly in the plane of the moon’s equator.
After successful orbit capture and health checks, Chandrayaan-1 performs another series of correction burns called Plane Change Maneuvers, to enter into a circular polar orbit ( passing above poles rather than around the equation ) around the moon.
Chandrayaan-1: Mission Details and Objectives
The main mission objectives of Chandrayaan-1 are:
- To conduct high resolution 3D mapping of the topographic features of the entire surface of the moon as well as the distribution of various elements and minerals on the moon, including radioactive nuclides. This new data, collected by Chandrayaan-1, could help solve mysteries about the origin and evolution of the solar system in general and the moon in particular.
- High-resolution chemical and mineralogical imaging of the permanently shadowed north and south polar regions
- Search for presence of sub-surface water ice at the poles
- To map the height variation of the lunar surface features along the surface track of the Chandrayaan-1’s orbit
- Stereographic coverage of the lunar surface with 5m resolution
- Detection of outgassing of radioactive elements such as Uranium, Thorium, Lead-210, Radon-222
International scientific community support for Chandrayaan -1 and reactions
Chandrayaan 1 graphic
NASA has provided a low power imaging radar to Chandrayaan-1. This will be used to identify regions of interest (mostly water-ice-laden polar regions) for a future lunar base. These regions will later be investigated in detail by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Chandrayaan 1
Each foreign instrument would have an Indian scientist attached as co-investigator and they would have to share the data with India. But the data gathered by the Indian instruments would belong to India for an year.
According to an understanding in the international scientific community, the agency conducting the research has first claim on the data and it has to use it in the first year for its research. After that, the data comes into the public domain and is accessible to all.
The scientific information gathered by the instrument and relayed to the earth will be first received at the National Science Data Centre through the Deep Space Network Station established at Bangalore, India, to support spacecraft orbiting the moon.
Listed as one of the highly-anticipated science and technology breakthroughs of the world, Chandrayaan – I would mark the World’s return return to the moon. Chandrayaan-1 follows recent missions to the moon from Japan and China. Its launch would be followed by the renewed US ( Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in March 2009 ) and Russian ( Luna-Glob in 2009 ) missions.
An article by the South Asia Analysis Group has described the Chandrayaan-1 ascent as “one of the touchstones of an India ascendant; an India that has emerged from Her chrysalis. Its time for India to spread Her wings and explore new trajectories. Its time for us Indians to step out of our infinitesimal blue & brown pebble and step into the cerulean infinity.”
History of Lunar Exploration
Now for a bit of history. The last manned mission to the moon was Apollo 17 that lifted off from Taurus-Littrow on December 14, 1972. The next manned lunar landing is tentatively scheduled to occur in 2019 with Orion 15 mission.
The last unmanned rover to successfully land on the moon was the Soviet Luna-24, which touched down on the lunar surface on August 18, 1976. To date, it remains the last probe by any country to soft-land on the moon. The latest orbiting missions that are still going on are China’s Chang’e-1 and Japan’s (JAXA) Kaguya/SELENE.
Both the orbiters are still working and sending back valuable data and imagery. SELENE also imaged the Apollo 15 landing site in 3D and it turned out to be exactly the same as the photos taken back in the 1970’s. Take that, moon hoax nutters!
Future Explorations: AVATAR and Chandrayaan -2
India has very ambitious plans for space exploration. India hasn’t had a crewed flight so far. ISRO submitted a report to the government in 2006 and has recieved Rs. 50 crores in funding for pre-project initiatives. A crewed flight is targeted for 2015, with a completely autonomous two-person capsule launched by the GSLV. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also developing a hypersonic spaceplane that will be able to launch from the ground, gather oxygen from air, boost into orbit, then re-enter and land like a normal airplane. The vehicle is named AVATAR.
As for robotic missions, the Cabinet has already cleared Chandrayaan – 2. This will be a rover plus orbiter. India has already signed agreements with the Russian Space Agency (RosKosmos) to work on Chandrayaan – 2. The rover will move around on the surface similar to NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers and send data to the orbiting spacecraft.
Mars Exploration Plans
India has ambitious plans for Mars. India is working on a small Mars orbiter to be launched as early as 2013, on GSLV. The spacecraft, costing about Rs 384 crores excluding the booster, would carry instruments to research the Martian atmosphere and sub surface, possibly including a radar. The mission is probably more significant at this point in that India is planning to do it, rather than what scientifically it is planning to do. India joins China as an Asian nation defining new Mars exploration. China is completing agreements with Russia on a small Chinese sub-satellite that would be deployed into Martian orbit from Russia’s mission to land a sample return mission on Phobos, a Martian moon. That mission will be launched in 2009. ISRO also has plans to send orbiters to asteroids and comets by 2015.
k7 said on Saturday, October 11, 2008, 4:00
time and money waste………………..
geethanjali said on Saturday, October 11, 2008, 17:03
great work done by indian scientists…………….HATS OFF.!!!!!
sambit said on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 3:24
i got a nice imformation about chandrayaan.i was helful by internet.
vinod said on Saturday, October 18, 2008, 8:31
its very memorial and pride moment for peole of india
Deepan said on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 5:44
it is a remarkable achievement and will be a golden page in indian history
Ravi said on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 9:39
i think its a great job & hatsoff to the indian scientist,but even thoug it is a great job,i want give a one suggestion instead of chandrayana, you have to do the project on mars ,because their is nothing special to discover on moon now ,so its only a waste of money and time
santhosh ganesan said on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 13:36
This page was very much useful for me. i was eager to know about the chandrayaan-1 which is going to create a very big history for India. i am very much happy that i got the info about the satellite.
Charu said on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 14:37
India has put a step forward & will become third Asian country after China & Japan
Charu said on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 14:39
eagerly waiting 4 that golden moment
keertikesh said on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 16:11
Great moment in the history of India. Space launch in itself is an exclusive breakthrough for devloping country like India. The mission to moon will prove India’s might before the whole world. Best wishes to the Scientists of ISRO and all those directly & indirectly associated.
Vinay said on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:24
Chadrayaan Blasts Off Succesfully Today at 6:20pm….Congrats to all Scientists…..YOU MADE US(India) PROUD ! ! !
subhash gupta said on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 3:11
No wonder we all sing
” Sarey jahan se achha Hindustan hamara”
Pankaj said on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 4:32
Congratulations!! You guys are doing a great job and we are proud of you!!
sreeju said on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 5:59
IT IS A PROUDABLE PROJECT 4 OUR COUNTRY JAI HIND…….
SON OF INDIA said on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 8:47
I AM PROUD OF MY SCINTEST
Congratulations!! You guys
I SILUT FOR MY MOTHER LAND
HAI HIND……………………………
tahmeed said on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 9:43
hi i am tahmeed good indian
john bosco said on Thursday, October 23, 2008, 4:35
i love india and isro for achiving chandrayaan-1
Nilesh Navale said on Thursday, October 23, 2008, 10:31
HATS OFF INDIA!!!! Congratulations of all scientists who took lot of efforts… JAI HIND!
sahasra said on Thursday, October 23, 2008, 10:59
At last the day has cme, the Vikramji& any Indians had dreamt. It is really an execellent work done by our scientists.. It SHULD!!! be rewarded… ..aAND IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST WORKS…………………………
sahasra said on Thursday, October 23, 2008, 11:03
AT Last the ay has come that many indians & scientists are waiting for… It is an Excellent work done by OUR scienists…….. Congrats India……….. ANd it is Goin TO be THE GREAT AN SUCESS………!!!!!!!!!!!
kalaivaazhi vijayaraghavan said on Friday, October 24, 2008, 5:46
Being an Indian we are proud for such a miracle event. Congratulations to the team. Excellent and outstanding work done by our scientists. Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. I Congratulate each and every on e in the team. BE INDIAN .
JAI HIND.!
manish choudhary said on Friday, October 24, 2008, 6:37
The launch of Chandrayaan 1 has once again proved that Indians are second to none.A country which has been ruled by foriegners for more than 1000 years has once again proved its potential as a scientific and technology based country.Time has come where India will rule the world because of its sheer intellegence.Congratulations to all the scientist who were involved in this project.
Chandan said on Saturday, October 25, 2008, 6:33
GREAT ACHIEVEMENT and its not a waste of time and money coz….it goes by the proverb “IF YOU WANT TO RAISE A BULL , PRACTICE IT FROM THE TIME ITS A CALF”
today we are successful in exploring moon , definetly tommorow its mars and others in the universe..
Ravichandra.v said on Saturday, October 25, 2008, 11:42
i would like to congradulate the great scients of India, who worked day and night for this
GREAT achievement.
MOHANREDDY said on Saturday, October 25, 2008, 12:06
IT is one of the mile stone of the india.who proud by all the countrys.HATOFF TI ALL
ahsan ahmed said on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 15:22
hay i want to congrates to all the scintist from behave of pakistan and i wish after this we will come to now much more about moon and other planet relllllyyyyy hatoff to every one reallly great work but i have only 1 prob we have to make chanrayaan project which damn hard but still great work may god bless u
aanchal said on Thursday, October 30, 2008, 13:05
india” s marching towards progress.
Kartik Garg said on Friday, October 31, 2008, 7:38
I, Kartik garg want to cogratulate the entire team members of chandrayaan mission to make India feel proud. Undoubtedly it was a great moment for we Indian.
pranav.ch said on Sunday, November 2, 2008, 5:50
I heartly congratulate the scientists for this success.I am very proud of our INDIA.
tapeshwer said on Sunday, November 9, 2008, 15:07
ITS A QUANTUM LEAP OF INDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TIME HAS COME THAT INDIA ONCE AGAIN GAINS THE STATUS THAT IT AQUIRED FOR MORE THAN 5,000 YEARS IN THE PAST !!!!!!!!!!!!
INDIA WILL BE ONCE AGIAN DOMINATE IN 50 YEARS!!!!!!!!
CHEERS
Parvinder Chandigarh said on Thursday, November 13, 2008, 13:23
its great achevement of INDIA…………
i m proude to be an INDIAN……….
N. SIVARAM said on Friday, November 14, 2008, 15:53
Finally today at 8.31 PM, INDIA Touched Moon…. Watching it on the TV screen itself was great! What would be feeling and proudness of our great scientists !
HATS OFF… to all associated with the project…
N. SIVARAM said on Friday, November 14, 2008, 15:56
Our child Moon Impact Probe (MIP) Touched the Moon on a Chidren’s day…NOV 14, 2008…. Unforgettable moment..
B J Maheshwari said on Friday, November 14, 2008, 17:09
It is a memorable & proud moment for all Indians & will be remembered in the history of India.
jacks said on Saturday, November 15, 2008, 10:25
its fabulous that we can also copete with the so called developed nations
vishnupriya said on Saturday, November 15, 2008, 10:43
GREAT ACHIEVEMENT DONE BY OUR INDIAN SCINTIST.. I CONGRATES TO ALL THE SCINTIST…..
GOD BLESS YOU..
anil said on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 5:21
great moments. Jai Hind.
I think mr. k7 is a waste and stupid.he shuold be thrown out from our country
Chandrayaan-2 moon mission research and launch, will land Moon by 2012 | DWS Tech said on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 5:53
[...] Chandrayaan-1 carried six payloads from international space agencies, such as NASA, ESA, and the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, free of cost. [...]
simrat brar said on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 19:22
one small step of ISRO and gaint leap for INDIA.i love you……
ANIL said on Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:04
we will acheeve the goal succefully
ankita singh said on Thursday, November 20, 2008, 14:02
congrates…though what still itches me is the fact that india even after having such a terrible economical crisis is actually spending 386 crores for just reinventing the wheel….what help will it be for those who don’t even have the fundamental ammenities that should be provided by the govt,????
Pallavi said on Friday, November 21, 2008, 10:32
its a proudly moment for india.
dailymailer said on Sunday, November 23, 2008, 12:33
HATS OFF TO ISRO & ALL SCIENTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE U ALL
sankar said on Monday, November 24, 2008, 11:02
great acheivement by indians with tears in my eyes……….
Muthu said on Monday, November 24, 2008, 15:21
I am very proud to be an Indian, Once again we show our “UNITY & POWER” TO THE WORLD
srini said on Monday, November 24, 2008, 15:39
Chandrayaan-1 was a great success to India, but very little information available about it on the ISRO’s website. They are spending billions of ruppees on projects like Chandrayaan, I wish if they could pay little attention on their website to disseminate information about their projects. Their website is substandard and very poorly organized.
MARIAPPAN said on Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 8:37
hi, i am mariappan i am indian we are all indian going too………do…the world….
purushoth said on Saturday, November 29, 2008, 8:19
this is a waste work the money spent for this may be used for some crore million peoples and may save thousand and thiusand of peoples but wasting towards space research is not bad but there is no use of researching the spaca and its secrets because the spaca is a puzzle which is created by the aklmighty it can’t be understand by smple man power because the the universe is even unimaginable but trying leads to no use is man is going to live there? otherwise what is the meaning of going for this research? when we think about thAT we came to kniw that it’s a very very very very very very waste project meaningless…………….. we should research towards other some useful things sorry for this discouraging mail but i should not appreciate this and i can’t allow this…………
MANOJ.N said on Saturday, November 29, 2008, 10:13
I CONGRATES THE SCIENTIST WHO R ALL INVOLVED IN THIS MISSION PROJECT….. I AM PROUD TO BE AN “INDIAN”.I HOPE THAT IN 2020 INDIA WILL BCOME AN MARVELLOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
MANOJ said on Saturday, November 29, 2008, 10:16
I PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN
ahad said on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 12:19
u r made india become usa
guru said on Thursday, December 18, 2008, 17:28
greatest achievements done by ISRO.WE 2 SALUTE THEM
MUTHUKUMAR said on Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 14:57
IM PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN .ALSO IM EAGER TO JOIN AS A PART TO CHANDRAAYAN-2
anirudh said on Monday, December 29, 2008, 7:55
This is really exiting that India can go anywhere in space and we can also challange to USA that u r not only the super power and we are the emerging super power of the next generation.
suketu said on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 15:16
india has no end in space
karthik said on Thursday, March 19, 2009, 7:21
im studyin in the same college where mr.Annadurai studied,,, and im proud to say this all among you,,,
I cong the great sucess made by our scientists !!!!
Kambham Dileep kumar said on Thursday, March 26, 2009, 2:31
Chandrayan-1 is a great achievement in the history of ISRO. go on creating new sensations and place our country on the top spot
Diganta Kumar Sarma said on Thursday, March 26, 2009, 10:58
I feel really proud to be an Indian
NANDINI.N said on Sunday, April 19, 2009, 9:07
I AM PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN.AND I CONGRATES THE SCIENTIST WHO INVOLED IN DS MISSION……”INDIA BECOME A FABULOUS COUNTRY “. ALL INDIANS DREAMS COMES TRUE ONE DAY THAT IS TOOOOO NEARER TO US….”BE AN INDIAN”.”DO AND DIE FOR INDIA”.WITH FULL OF TEARS……”JAI HIND”…….WITH LOVE BY INDIAN(NANDINI.N).
Baddhu said on Sunday, September 6, 2009, 6:43
Good Work… But can any one tel me.. why At all this project was created..? Is it just to compete with the other world nations.. ? Or is there any benifit from this…? I dont think this is a waste… When every one in the world are Digging Moon… There should be some thing that will be useful in there.. But Still. if there is really nothing…. then I might have to rethink my statement – “Indians are Great” ..
sherlock holmes said on Thursday, September 17, 2009, 5:27
be proud to be an indian. jai ho india
saravanan said on Friday, September 25, 2009, 5:37
its a proud moment for india…..hats of the scientist…jai hind..vantha matharam…
rahulraj said on Friday, November 13, 2009, 12:22
be proud to be an Indian JAIHIND