Why this matters now
Chandrayaan-1 is tested for: launch 22 Oct 2008 PSLV-C11 from SHAR; lunar orbit insertion 8 Nov 2008; project director Mylswamy Annadurai; 11 instruments (5 ISRO + 3 ESA + 2 NASA + 1 Bulgarian); NASA M3 Moon Mineralogy Mapper confirmed water/hydroxyl OH on Moon (published Sep 2009 Science); MIP Moon Impact Probe impacted near Shackleton crater south pole 14 Nov 2008 — carried tricolour, made India 4th nation to plant flag on Moon; mission ended 29 Aug 2009 after losing contact (8 month vs 2-year planned life); 3400 orbits, 95% objectives met.
Launch & lunar orbit
- Launch: 22 Oct 2008, 06:22 IST, PSLV-C11 (extended XL variant) from First Launch Pad SHAR.
- Transfer trajectory: five Earth-bound burns to apogee.
- Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI): 8 Nov 2008.
- Final orbit: 100 km circular polar lunar orbit from 12 Nov 2008. Lowered later for science.
- Mass: ~1380 kg at launch, ~675 kg dry.
Instruments & discoveries
| Instrument | Origin | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| TMC Terrain Mapping Camera | ISRO | 5 m resolution map of Moon. |
| HySI Hyperspectral Imager | ISRO | Mineral mapping (32 bands). |
| LLRI Laser Altimeter | ISRO | Topography 5 m accuracy. |
| HEX High Energy X-ray | ISRO | Radon-222 lead-210 polar volatiles. |
| MIP Moon Impact Probe | ISRO | Impacted south pole 14 Nov 2008. |
| M3 Moon Mineralogy Mapper | NASA | Detected water/hydroxyl signature on lunar surface. |
| SARA, SIR-2, C1XS | ESA | Solar wind, IR spec, X-ray. |
| Mini-SAR | NASA | S-band radar — ice in polar craters. |
| RADOM-7 | Bulgaria | Radiation dose. |
Key discoveries:
- Water on Moon — M3 detected hydroxyl (OH) + water (H2O) absorption at 3 µm wavelength on sunlit highland; published 25 Sep 2009 Science. Most credited Indian space science result internationally.
- Mini-SAR detected likely water ice in polar craters.
- Mapped distribution of Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Ti, U, Th, K on lunar surface.
End of mission
- 29 Aug 2009: ISRO lost contact — mission terminated.
- Lifespan: 312 days (~8 months) vs planned 2 years; 3400 lunar orbits; 95% science objectives met.
- Causes: Star tracker failure + thermal control degradation + power loss.
- 2017: NASA JPL re-located the spacecraft using Goldstone 70 m + Green Bank radar — confirmed still orbiting Moon at 200 km.
UPSC angle
Know CHANDRAYAAN-1 — INDIA’S FIRST LUNAR MISSION; LAUNCH 22 OCT 2008 06:22 IST PSLV-C11 EXTENDED XL FIRST LAUNCH PAD SHAR; PROJECT DIRECTOR MYLSWAMY ANNADURAI; LUNAR ORBIT INSERTION 8 NOV 2008; final 100 KM CIRCULAR POLAR LUNAR ORBIT 12 Nov 2008; mass 1380 kg launch 675 kg dry; 11 INSTRUMENTS (5 ISRO + 3 ESA + 2 NASA + 1 BULGARIAN); ISRO: TMC HySI LLRI HEX MIP; NASA: M3 MOON MINERALOGY MAPPER + Mini-SAR; ESA: SARA SIR-2 C1XS; Bulgaria: RADOM-7; M3 DETECTED WATER/HYDROXYL OH absorption 3 µm wavelength sunlit highland published 25 SEP 2009 SCIENCE most credited Indian space result; Mini-SAR detected water ice polar craters; MIP MOON IMPACT PROBE IMPACTED NEAR SHACKLETON CRATER SOUTH POLE 14 NOV 2008 carried TRICOLOUR India 4TH NATION TO PLANT FLAG ON MOON; MISSION ENDED 29 AUG 2009 contact lost; lifespan 312 days vs 2 years; 3400 lunar orbits; 95% science objectives met; causes star tracker fail + thermal degradation + power loss; 2017 NASA JPL re-located via Goldstone 70m + Green Bank radar confirmed still orbiting at 200 km.
Frequently asked questions
When was Chandrayaan-1 launched?
22 October 2008 by PSLV-C11 (XL variant) from SHAR Sriharikota. Lunar orbit insertion 8 November 2008.
Did Chandrayaan-1 find water on the Moon?
Yes. NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) aboard Chandrayaan-1 detected hydroxyl (OH) + water absorption on the lunar surface at 3 µm wavelength. Published 25 Sept 2009 in Science.
What did the MIP do?
Moon Impact Probe — ejected from Chandrayaan-1 + impacted near Shackleton crater (south pole) on 14 November 2008. Carried the tricolour, making India the 4th nation to plant its flag on the Moon.
When did the mission end?
29 August 2009 — ISRO lost contact 8 months into a 2-year planned mission. Still met 95% of science objectives + completed 3400 lunar orbits.