Chandrayaan-3: Recent Updates, Facts, MCQs for Competitive Exams

Chandrayaan-3, Latest Live Information, Objective, Instruments, Life, Investigations, Findings, Points to Remember and MCQs for Various Competitive Exams like SSC, UPSC, NDA, ISRO, CAT, MAT, Railways, Bank, PO Exams etc.

Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3 was a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2. It landed a rover on the Moon’s surface which is conducting experiments to study the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-3 was the third lunar mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It consists of a lander called Vikram, a rover called Pragyan, and a propulsion module. The propulsion module carries the lander and rover to the Moon. The lander landed on the Moon’s surface, and the rover explored the surface.

The Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST. The lander and rover were landed on the Moon’s south pole region on August 23, 2023 at 6:04PM (IST).

Objectives of Chandrayaan-3

  • Landing a lander safely and softly on the surface of the Moon. This was the primary objective of the mission. The lander Vikram landed in a precise location on the Moon’s surface.
  • Observing and demonstrating the rover’s loitering capabilities on the Moon. The rover was equipped with a variety of instruments to study the Moon’s surface. It moved around the Moon’s surface, which allowed it to explore a wider area.
  • Conducting experiments on the materials available on the lunar surface to better understand the composition of the Moon. The rover collected samples of the lunar soil and rocks. These samples were analyzed to better understand the composition of the Moon and its history.

Chandrayaan-3 Latest Updates

  1. The LIBS instrument also detected the expected elements aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). The search for hydrogen (H) is ongoing.
  2. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument on the rover has unambiguously confirmed the presence of sulfur (S) in the lunar surface near the south pole. This was the first time that sulfur has been detected on the moon in situ.
  3. The place where Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander landed is named Shiv-Shakti Point and Where Chandrayaan-2 crashed and touched the moon is named Tiranga. The day on which the lander landed on the Moon will be celebrated as National Space Day (NSD) every year i.e. August 23.
  4. The Pragyan rover investigated the moon in the area of 100m.
  1. The Vikram Lander successfully completed their soft landing on the South pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023, at 6:04 PM.
  2. The Second de-boosting was successfully completed on August 20, 2023, at 1:50 AM (IST). The lander Module is now in 25 Km x 134 Km orbit around the moon. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is expected to begin its powered descent to the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, at 18:04 PM (IST).
  3. The lander Module was in a 113 Km x 157 Km orbit around the moon on August 19, 2023.
  4. The first de-boosting was successfully completed on August 18, 2023.
  5. The Vikram lander separated from the relay satellite and began its journey to the lunar surface. This was successfully done on August 17, 2023.
  6. The spacecraft’s orbit around the Moon was reduced to 153 kilometers by 163 kilometers after the firing on August 16, 2023.
  7. The spacecraft is in the process of circularizing its orbit around the Moon and is currently in an orbit of 151 kilometers by 179 kilometers on August 14, 2023
  8. On August 9, 2023, a maneuver was performed to reduce Chandrayaan-3’s orbit to 174 kilometers by 1437 kilometers.
  9. The second low-thrust burn (LBN#2) was successfully completed, and the spacecraft is now in a 170-km x 4313-km orbit around the Moon.
  10. ISRO Uploaded Video of Photos taken by Chandrayaan-3. Click here to watch
  11. On August 5, ISRO successfully placed Chandrayaan-3 into orbit around the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 has successfully entered a lunar orbit of 164 km x 18074 km, as planned.
  12. The spacecraft successfully entered a translunar orbit of 288 kilometers by 369328 kilometers on July 25, 2023, with a planned Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) on August 5, 2023.
  13. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft July 22, 2023, successfully completed an orbit-raising maneuver on July 25, 2023. The next firing, the Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI), is planned for August 1, 2023.
  14. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on July 17, 2023, successfully completed its fourth orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing). The spacecraft is now in a 71,351-km x 233-km orbit.
  15. The first orbit-raising maneuver (Earthbound firing-1) was successfully performed on July 15, 2023, at the Indian Space Research Organisation Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru. The spacecraft is now in a 41,762-km x 173-km orbit.
  16. Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023. Click Here to Watch Live Streaming of Launching

Videos of Chandrayaan-3 Mission

Parts of Chandrayaan-3

The Chandrayaan-3 mission has three main parts:

  • The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover to the Moon. It is a box-like structure with solar panels on one side and a large cylinder on top.
  • The lander will land on the Moon and carry the rover and scientific instruments. It has four landing legs and four thrusters.
  • The rover will explore the Moon’s surface. It has six wheels and can move around independently. It will be equipped with scientific instruments to study the Moon’s surface, geology, and atmosphere.
chandrayaan-3

Propulsion Module

It will carry the lander and rover to the Moon. It is a box-like structure with solar panels on one side and a large cylinder on top. The weight of Propulsion Module was 2148 kg. It was separated out from lander on 17th August, 2023.

Lander

The Chandrayaan-3 lander has been designed to address the issues that led to the failure of the Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2. The new lander has only four throttle-able engines, which will make it more stable during landing. It also has a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) to measure its attitude in three directions. The impact legs have been made stronger, and the instrumentation redundancy has been increased. The landing region has also been made more precise, based on images from the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC).

Rover

Rover is accommodated inside the Lander. The Chandrayaan-3 rover is a six-wheeled vehicle that weighs 26 kilograms (57 pounds). It has a range of 500 meters (1,600 feet) and dimensions of 917 mm x 750 mm x 397 mm (3.009 ft x 2.46 ft x 1.302 ft).

rover chandrayaan-3

The rover is expected to make a number of important scientific discoveries, including:

  • The composition of the lunar surface
  • The presence of water ice in the lunar soil
  • The history of lunar impacts
  • The evolution of the Moon’s atmosphere

The rover will be equipped with a variety of scientific instruments to help it make these discoveries, including:

  • A camera to image the lunar surface
  • A spectrometer to analyze the composition of the lunar soil
  • A magnetometer to measure the magnetic field of the Moon
  • A seismometer to detect moonquakes
  • A radiometer to measure the temperature of the lunar surface

The rover is expected to operate for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days. This means that it will have enough time to explore a significant area of the Moon and make important scientific discoveries.

The Chandrayaan-3 rover is a significant step forward for India’s space program. It is the first Indian rover to land on the Moon, and it is expected to make important scientific discoveries that will help us to better understand our lunar neighbor.

Instruments of Chandrayaan-3

Instruments on Lander

  • Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE): This instrument will measure the thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface. This information will help scientists to understand how the Moon’s surface cools and evolves over time.
  • Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): This instrument will measure the seismicity around the landing site. This information will help scientists to understand the Moon’s internal structure and the history of its impacts.
  • Langmuir Probe (LP): This instrument will estimate the plasma density and its variations. This information will help scientists to understand the Moon’s atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind.

Instruments on Rover

  • Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): This instrument will derive the chemical composition and infer the mineralogical composition of the lunar surface. This information will help scientists to understand the origin and evolution of the Moon’s surface materials.
  • Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): This instrument will determine the elemental composition (Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) of lunar soil and rocks around the lunar landing site. This information will help scientists to understand the composition of the Moon’s interior and its history of volcanic activity.

Instruments on Relay Satellite

  • Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE): This instrument will study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range (1-1.7 μm). This information will help scientists to understand the composition of Earth’s atmosphere and its climate.

These are just some of the instruments that will be used on Chandrayaan-3. The mission is expected to make a number of important scientific discoveries that will help us to better understand the Moon and its place in the solar system.

Launching of Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India. It entered in lunar orbit on August 5, 2023. The spacecraft is expected to land on the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chose to launch Chandrayaan-3 in July because the Earth and the Moon are closer together during this time of year. This makes it easier to launch a spacecraft to the Moon.

On August 5, ISRO successfully placed Chandrayaan-3 into orbit around the Moon. This was a major milestone for the mission. The next step was for the Vikram lander to separate from the relay satellite and begin its journey to the lunar surface. This successfully done on August 17.

The final maneuver will be conducted on August 18 and 20. This will lower the perigee (closest point) of the orbit in preparation for the landing. The lander is expected to land on the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023.

Points to Remember on Chandrayaan-3

  • Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • It consists of a lander called Vikram, a rover called Pragyan, and a propulsion module.
  • The propulsion module carries the lander and rover to the Moon. The lander will land on the Moon’s surface, and the rover will explore the surface.
  • The launch of Chandrayaan-3 took place on July 14, 2023, at 2:35 pm IST.
  • The lander and rover are expected to land on the Moon’s south pole region on August 23, 2023.
  • The mission has three main parts: the propulsion module, the lander, and the rover.
  • The Chandrayaan-3 lander has been designed to address the issues that led to the failure of the Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2.
  • The rover is expected to make a number of important scientific discoveries, including the composition of the lunar surface, the presence of water ice in the lunar soil, the history of lunar impacts, and the evolution of the Moon’s atmosphere.
  • The rover is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments to help it make these discoveries, including a camera, a spectrometer, a magnetometer, a seismometer, and a radiometer.
  • The rover is expected to operate for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days.
  • The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant step forward for India’s space program. It is the first Indian mission to land a rover on the Moon’s south pole region.
  • The mission is expected to help scientists learn more about the Moon’s history and potential for future human exploration.
  • The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a joint effort between ISRO and NASA.
  • The mission is expected to cost around ₹978 crore (US$130 million).
  • The success of Chandrayaan-3 would be a major boost for India’s space program and would help to put India in the forefront of lunar exploration.

MCQs Based on Chandrayaan-3

MCQ 1: What is the primary objective of Chandrayaan-3?

  • A. To land a rover on the Moon’s surface.
  • B. To study the composition of the lunar surface.
  • C. To observe and demonstrate the rover’s loitering capabilities on the Moon.
  • D. To conduct experiments on the materials available on the lunar surface.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to land a rover on the Moon’s surface. The other objectives are also important, but they are secondary to the primary objective.

MCQ 2: What are the three main parts of Chandrayaan-3?

  • A. The propulsion module, the lander, and the rover.
  • B. The lander, the rover, and the spectrometer.
  • C. The lander, the rover, and the orbiter.
  • D. The orbiter, the lander, and the spectrometer.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). The three main parts of Chandrayaan-3 are the propulsion module, the lander, and the rover. The propulsion module carries the lander and rover to the Moon. The lander lands on the Moon and carries the rover. The rover explores the Moon’s surface.

MCQ 3: What are the instruments that will be used on the Chandrayaan-3 lander?

  • A. Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and Langmuir Probe (LP).
  • B. Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS), Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), and Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE).
  • C. ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, APXS, and LIBS.
  • D. ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, APXS, LIBS, and SHAPE.

Answer: The correct answer is (C).

The instruments that will be used on the Chandrayaan-3 lander are ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, APXS, and LIBS. These instruments will help scientists to understand the thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface, the seismicity around the landing site, the plasma density and its variations, the chemical composition of the lunar surface, and the elemental composition of lunar soil and rocks.

MCQ 4: When was Chandrayaan-3 launched?

  • A. July 14, 2022.
  • B. July 14, 2023.
  • C. August 5, 2023.
  • D. August 23, 2023.

Answer: The correct answer is (B). Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India.

MCQ 5: Where is Chandrayaan-3 expected to land?

  • A. The lunar north pole.
  • B. The lunar south pole.
  • C. The lunar equator.
  • D. The lunar highlands.

Answer: The correct answer is (B). Chandrayaan-3 is expected to land on the lunar south pole. The south pole is a region of the Moon that has not been well-explored, and scientists believe that it may contain water ice.

MCQ 6: What is the name of the rover that will be deployed from Chandrayaan-3?

  • A. Pragyan.
  • B. Vikram.
  • C. Chandrayaan.
  • D. ChaSTE.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). The name of the rover that will be deployed from Chandrayaan-3 is Pragyan.

MCQ 7: What is the weight of the Chandrayaan-3 rover?

  • A. 26 kilograms.
  • B. 57 kilograms.
  • C. 100 kilograms.
  • D. 150 kilograms.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). The weight of the Chandrayaan-3 rover is 26 kilograms.

MCQ 8: What is the range of the Chandrayaan-3 rover?

  • A. 500 meters.
  • B. 1,000 meters.
  • C. 1,500 meters.
  • D. 2,000 meters.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). The range of the Chandrayaan-3 rover is 500 meters.

MCQ 9: What are the scientific instruments that will be used on the Chandrayaan-3 rover?

  • A. A camera, a spectrometer, a magnetometer, a seismometer, and a radiometer.
  • B. ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, APXS, and LIBS.
  • C. ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, APXS, LIBS, and SHAPE.
  • D. None of the above.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). The scientific instruments that will be used on the Chandrayaan-3 rover are a camera, a spectrometer, a magnetometer, a seismometer, and a radiometer. These instruments will help scientists to image the lunar surface, analyze the composition of the lunar soil, measure the magnetic field of the Moon, detect moonquakes, and measure the temperature of the lunar surface.

MCQ 10: How long is Chandrayaan-3 expected to operate on the lunar surface?

  • A. One lunar day.
  • B. Two lunar days.
  • C. Three lunar days.
  • D. Four lunar days.

Answer: The correct answer is (A). Chandrayaan-3 is expected to operate on the lunar surface for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days.

MCQ 11: What is the main reason for the failure of the Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2?

  • A. A technical glitch.
  • B. A collision with a lunar rock.
  • C. A software bug.
  • D. A combination of factors.

Answer: The correct answer is (D). The main reason for the failure of the Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2 was a combination of factors, including a technical glitch, a collision with a lunar rock, and a software bug.

MCQ 12: How has Chandrayaan-3 been designed to address the issues that led to the failure of the Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2?

  • The lander has been designed with four throttle-able engines, which will make it more stable during landing.
  • The lander has a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) to measure its attitude in three directions.
  • The impact legs have been made stronger, and the instrumentation redundancy has been increased.
  • The landing region has been made more precise, based on images from the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC).

Answer: The correct answer is (A, B, C, D). Chandrayaan-3 has been designed with four throttle-able engines, a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV), stronger impact legs, and increased instrumentation redundancy. The landing region has also been made more precise, based on images from the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC). These changes are designed to address the issues that led to the failure of the Vikram lander on Chandrayaan-2.

MCQ 13: What is the significance of the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

  • The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant step forward for India’s space program.
  • It is the first Indian mission to land a rover on the Moon’s south pole.
  • The mission is expected to help scientists learn more about the Moon’s history and potential for future human exploration.
  • All of the above.

Answer: The correct answer is (D). All of the above are

MCQ 14: What are the challenges that ISRO will face in the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

  • The south pole of the moon is a very challenging place to land, due to its extreme cold and lack of sunlight.
  • The lander and rover are very complex and have never been used before.
  • The mission is very expensive and ISRO may not have enough funding.
  • All of the above.

Answer: The correct answer is (D). All of the above are challenges that ISRO will face in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The south pole of the moon is a very challenging place to land, due to its extreme cold and lack of sunlight. The lander and rover are also very complex and have never been used before. Additionally, the mission is very expensive and ISRO may not have enough funding.

MCQ 15: What is the future of lunar exploration?

  • More countries are expected to join the race to the Moon.
  • Private companies are also expected to play a major role in lunar exploration.
  • The Moon is becoming a more attractive destination for human exploration.
  • All of the above.

Answer: The correct answer is (D). All of the above are trends that are expected to shape the future of lunar exploration. More countries are expected to join the race to the Moon, as the benefits of lunar exploration become more apparent. Private companies are also expected to play a major role in lunar exploration, as they develop new technologies and capabilities. And the Moon is becoming a more attractive destination for human exploration, as we learn more about its potential resources and opportunities.

Further Readings:

Aditya-L1 Mission: Latest Updates, First Solar Mission of India 

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