Chandrayan Mission of India Part - I

 

Chandrayan Mission of India Part - I

        Chandrayan III mission of India has been launched on 4^th July 2023 and on 5^th August 2023, it is successfully inserted into lunar orbit.

             This article will be completed in to two parts. In this part we will see about moon, why moon exploration is needed and different lunar missions.

             Since beginning, our moon has become a center of attraction for world to understand the evolution of earth and our solar system.

             

 

Moon –

·       Moon is our only natural satellite, which rotates around earth.

·       It is 5^th largest satellite in our solar system.

·       There is no atmosphere, hydrosphere and magnetic field found on moon.

·       Its surface gravity is 1/6^th of the earth’s gravity.

·       It is tidally lock with earth means during rotation it always face same side, called near side and its opposite side is never seen by us from earth.

      This is because, Moon’s orbital period (Moon rotates around earth) is equal to its rotational period (Moon rotates its own axis), which is approx. 27 days.

       

 

·       Moon plays key role in defining earth’s atmosphere, Hydrosphere and lithosphere.

      Its study is vital for further knowing about our earth, solar system and never-ending space exploration.

 

Need of moon exploration

·       Due to moon’s axis, some regions of moon are always remained in dark means never received sunlight.

     Therefore, there is chance of presence of water in form of ice in these regions.

·       Permanent shadowed regions of moon may provide a record of history of moon and solar system.

·       Study of dark regions of moon may provide about evidence of earth-moon system.

 

 Missions on moon

In 20^th century, Soviet Union and US have started moon exploration.

·       First spacecraft ever reach the surface of moon was Luna 2 in 1959 belongs to Soviet Union.

·       Apollo 11 was first crew mission of US which landed human on moon in 1969. Neil Armstrong was first human to walk on the moon.

 

         In 21^st century, many countries have sent or sending their lunar missions like Chang’e5 by China, Artemis programme of NASA (through this, NASA is planning to land 2^nd man and 1^st woman on moon.), Chandrayan mission of India etc.

        India has achieved breakthrough in space technology. India has sent many space missions in which Chandrayan missions are significant for moon exploration. India’s space organization ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) play key role in development and sending space missions including Chandrayan missions on moon.

            Till now India has sent 3 Chandrayan missions on moon named as –

·       Chandrayan I in 2008

·       Chandrayan II in 2019

·       Chandrayan III in 2023

In next part, discussion of these 3 Missions will be completed.

                                                                                        - By Pooja Gupta