Introduction
Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra and Destination to the Moon from Tintin would be the perfect way to encapsulate the history occurred on July 14, 2023. This article highlights the launch of Chandrayaan-3, from its count down to behind the scenes and the speech post the launch.
If India becomes successful in this mission, then the country aims to become the fourth in line to have a controlled landing on the moon. The LVM3-M4 rocket was initially set to launch on July 12, 2023, but was postponed by two days.
The Indian Space Research Organisation broadcast this event on all the social media platforms, such as YouTube, Twitter, ISRO's website, and television channels such as Doordarshan (DD), which is India's most prominent broadcasting channel and news channel. With the livestream commencing 30 minutes prior, ISRO gave a detailed insight concerning the aim and purpose of Chandrayaan-3. Moreover, another insight was provided with the attributes of predecessor missions of the Indian Lunar Exploration Programme and how all three tasks differed from each other. However, Chandrayaan-3 is the follow-up to the failed mission of Chandrayaan-2.
An article sourced from The Social Talk gave an analysis of Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3 in terms to their missions and phases.
The Technical Aspect and The Assembly Timeline
ISRO stated over its livestream, "The LVM3 is considered India's largest and heaviest launch vehicle, carrying Indian and International customer Satellites." The Vehicle consisted of the Payload Fairing, Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft, C25 Cryogenic Engine, L110 Liquid stage, and the twin S200 Solid Rocket Boosters.
The Second Vehicle Assembly Building saw the technical assemblage of the LVM3 rocket along with the strap-on boosters arranged in components. And each S200 segment consisted of the nozzle, middle, and head segments. After the assembly of the solid rocket boosters, they were lowered by a crane to the mobile launch pedestal. After this process, the ignited construction occurs. With this, ISRO opens doors to the behind-the-scenes work that made this mission successful.
In 2019, over an Instagram post, ISRO formed various committees. for Chandrayaan-3, In 2020, over another post, the Government approved the project. The Chandrayaan-3 was pair with the Launch Vehicle Mark-III on July 5, 2023. The next day, ISRO updated the Vehicle’s movement to the launchpad. Around July 9, the final stage of preparations took place. On July 11, we saw what is called ‘Launch Rehearsal.’
The flight plan and mission sequence incorporate the nominal flight sequence for the LVM3, which is 43.5 meters tall and 642 tonnes heavy, with graphs of the flight parameters, with the factors of time vs. altitude, and time vs. velocity denoted by the range, degree, and relative velocity of the spacecraft noted. In contrast, the ground trace graph signifies the time, apogee in kilometers, and other factors.
Additionally, an Indian Express source stated that the LVM3 had passed more than 3,000 wind tunnel tests at the Bengaluru site, according to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL).
The Launch and Post Launch
The much-awaited Chandrayaan-3 took off from Satish Dhawan, Sriharikota, at 2:35 pm Indian Standard Time. As per the sequence, a series of stages took place. With the new camera, ISRO, India, and the whole world saw the separation of Chandrayaan-3. Brut India documented the whole event.
The Times of India recorded the marvelous address given to some influential figures. "Congratulations, India," ISRO Chairman S Somnath started his speech congratulating ISRO.
- S. Mohana Kumar, Mission Director, also congratulated the ISRO family and provided technical aspects of the mission.
- P. Veeamuthuvel, Chandrayaan-3 Project Director, stated that Chandrayaan-3 was injected into a safe orbit that would be monitored and controlled by ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network Bengaluru in hopes of a soft landing.
- Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), stated that the launch vehicle (LVM3) is reusable and suitable for Gaganyaan.
- M. Sankaran, Director of the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), and A. Rajarajan, Chairman of the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB), praised the Chandrayaan-3.
- Moreover, credits were given to all the committee teams, especially the 54 female engineers and scientists who were part of this mission. According to an ISRO official, they are "associate and deputy project directors and project managers of various systems." The Better India noted, Project Director Muthayya Vanitha and Mission Director Ritu Karidhal were part of this mission
Wishes and Conclusion
The Mint article stated that former ISRO’s scientist, Nambi Narayanan said “Let us keep our fingers crossed and wait for 43 days." He is known for the development of the Vikas Engine that powers the PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mark 3 (LVM3) during the 1970’s, and to aid India in launching heavier satellites to higher orbits, he also envisioned and worked towards constructing a substantially more sophisticated cryogenic engine.
When it came to recognizing of this historic event, more than one crore viewers have seen the launch of Chandrayaan-3. The best wishes came from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who stated that this day would "be etched in golden letters."
This day marks an extraordinary and essential day for India regarding its goals in space missions and studies. Times of India mentioned that Chandrayaan-3's launch is a fulfilment of the vision held by the ISRO's founding fathers, according to Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh.
Edited by Whitney Edna Ibe
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