Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3

Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-III: Space Science & technology 

In News: Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for launch in August 2022.

• Same configuration like Chandrayaan-2 but it will not have an orbiter. The orbiter launched during Chandrayaan-2 will be used for Chandrayaan-3.
• Chandrayaan-3 is critical for ISRO as it will demonstrate India’s capabilities to make landings for further interplanetary missions.
• The Chandrayaan-3 takes cues from the first Chandrayaan mission launched in October 2008 that made major discoveries including finding evidence of water on the lunar surface.

What happened to Chandrayaan-2?

• Chandrayaan-2, India’s second mission to the Moon, had failed to make a soft-landing on the lunar surface.

• The lander and rover malfunctioned in the final moments and crash-landed, getting destroyed in the process

Key information gathered till now

• Presence of water molecules on moon which is the most precise information about water till date.
• Presence of Minor elements: Chromium, manganese and Sodium have been detected for the first time through remote sensing. 
• Information about solar flares: A large number of microflares outside the active region have been observed for the first time. It shall help in understanding the mechanism behind heating of the solar corona.

News Source: PIB