In order to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and wandering on the lunar surface, Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2. It is configured with Landers and Rovers. LVM3 will launch it out of SDSC SHAR in Sriharikota. The lander and rover configuration will be propelled by the propulsion module up to a 100 kilometer lunar orbit. To examine the spectral and Polarimetric data of Earth from the lunar orbit, the propulsion module is equipped with the Spectro-Polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload.
Lander payloads include the Langmuir Probe (LP), Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA), and Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE), which measures thermal conductivity and temperature. For lunar laser ranging investigations, space agency NASA has provided a passive Laser Retroreflector Array.
Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) are rover payloads that are used to determine the elemental composition close to the landing site.
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Chandrayaan-3 Gallery Appraisal
With the aim of researching and showcasing new technology necessary for interplanetary missions, Chandrayaan-3 is made up of an indigenous Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM), and Rover. The Lander will be able to soft land at a chosen location on the moon and release the Rover, which will conduct in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface while it is moving. There are scientific payloads on the Lander and the Rover that will conduct lunar surface tests. The main job of PM is to transport the LM from injection into the launch vehicle to the final 100 km circular polar orbit of the moon and then to release the LM from PM.In addition to this, the Propulsion Module carries a scientific payload that will operate when the Lander Module separates. The GSLV-Mk3 launch vehicle has been designated for Chandrayaan-3, and it will place the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) with a dimension of approximately 170 x 36500 kilometers.
The goals of Chandrayaan-3’s mission are:
To show Safe and Soft Landing on the Surface of the Moon
To showcase roving lunar rover technology
to carry out in-situ scientific research.
Several cutting-edge technologies, including those listed below, are present in Lander to help with mission goals.
Timers: RF and Laser based Timers
Laser Gyro-based Inertial referencing and Accelerometer package for Laser Doppler Velocimeters and Lander Horizontal Velocity Cameras
Propulsion Mechanism: Throttleable Engine Control, 800N Throttleable Liquid Engines, and 58N Attitude Thrusters Electronics
Powered Descent Trajectory design and associated software components for navigation, guidance, and control (NGC)
Risk identification and mitigation: Lander Hazard Detection & Mitigation Landing Leg Mechanism for the Camera and Processing Algorithm.
Several Lander specific tests have been designed and successfully executed to showcase the aforementioned advanced technology in real-world settings, including the following.
Integrated Cold Test: A performance test for integrated sensors and navigation using a helicopter as the test platform
To demonstrate closed loop performance testing using sensors, actuators, and NGC, an integrated hot test was conducted utilizing a tower crane as the test platform.
Test of the Lander Leg mechanism’s performance under various touch down scenarios on a lunar simulator test bed.
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