Why this matters now
Chandrayaan-3 is tested for: launch 14 Jul 2023 14:35 IST LVM3-M4 SHAR Second Launch Pad; mass 3900 kg; LOI 5 Aug 2023; landing 23 Aug 2023 18:04 IST at 69.37°S, 32.35°E — India 4th nation, 1st south pole; Chair S. Somanath; Project Director P. Veeramuthuvel; Mission Director S. Mohanakumar; landing site Shiv Shakti Point; 23 August National Space Day; Pragyan rover traversed ~100 m for 14 Earth days (1 lunar day); confirmed sulphur in lunar regolith (LIBS instrument 28 Aug 2023); detected Al, Ca, Fe, Cr, Ti, Mn, O. Cost: Rs 615 crore (~$74 m) — cheaper than Hollywood film Interstellar.
Modules & mass
| Module | Mass | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion Module | 2148 kg | Carries lander to 100 km lunar orbit; SHAPE instrument (study Earth-like exoplanets). |
| Vikram Lander | 1752 kg | 4 throttleable engines; legs strengthened; 4 instruments — ChaSTE, ILSA, RAMBHA-LP, LRA (NASA). |
| Pragyan Rover | 26 kg | 6 wheels, solar; 2 instruments LIBS + APXS. Designed life 1 lunar day = 14 Earth days. |
No orbiter — reused Chandrayaan-2 orbiter for relay.
Landing sequence
Powered descent began 17:44 IST 23 Aug 2023 (~20 min); four phases:
- Rough braking — from 30 km altitude, 1.68 km/s velocity, 690 sec.
- Attitude hold — ~7.4 km altitude, 358 m/s.
- Fine braking — ~150 m altitude.
- Terminal descent — vertical 150 m to touchdown.
Touchdown 18:04 IST 23 Aug 2023 at 69.37°S, 32.35°E, between craters Manzinus C + Simpelius N near south pole.
Pragyan rolled out ~6 hours later. Operations 23 Aug - 4 Sept 2023 (one lunar day). Put to sleep for lunar night; did not wake on 22 Sept (extreme cold).
Science results
- Sulphur confirmed in lunar south polar regolith (LIBS — first in situ detection; 28 Aug 2023).
- Detected Al, Ca, Fe, Cr, Ti, Mn, Si, O; hydrogen search continued.
- ChaSTE probed soil temperature profile to 10 cm depth — 70°C surface to -10°C at 8 cm.
- ILSA recorded seismic event 26 Aug 2023 (natural).
- RAMBHA-LP measured lunar surface plasma density.
- SHAPE (on propulsion module) demonstrated technique to characterise habitable exoplanets.
Significance & cost
- India 4th nation after USSR (Luna-9, 1966), USA (Surveyor-1, 1966), China (Chang’e-3, 2013) to soft-land on Moon.
- 1st nation to land near south pole — previous landings all near equator.
- Came days after Russian Luna-25 crashed (19 Aug 2023) at similar location.
- Cost: Rs 615 crore (~US$74 m) — remarkably low; popular meme: less than Hollywood film Interstellar (~$165 m).
- PM Modi at ISTRAC Bengaluru 26 Aug 2023 announced: landing site = Shiv Shakti Point; Chandrayaan-2 crash site = Tiranga Point; 23 Aug = National Space Day (first observed 2024).
UPSC angle
Know CHANDRAYAAN-3 — LAUNCH 14 JULY 2023 14:35 IST LVM3-M4 SHAR Second Launch Pad; mass 3900 kg; LOI 5 AUG 2023; SOFT LANDING 23 AUGUST 2023 18:04 IST at 69.37°S 32.35°E between craters MANZINUS C + SIMPELIUS N near south pole; INDIA 4TH NATION after USSR Luna-9 1966 + USA Surveyor-1 1966 + CHINA Chang’e-3 2013; 1ST NATION TO LAND NEAR SOUTH POLE; came days after RUSSIAN LUNA-25 CRASHED 19 AUG 2023 similar location; Chair S. SOMANATH; Project Director P. VEERAMUTHUVEL; Mission Director S. MOHANAKUMAR; PM MODI ISTRAC BENGALURU 26 AUG 2023 named landing site SHIV SHAKTI POINT + Chandrayaan-2 crash site TIRANGA POINT + 23 AUG NATIONAL SPACE DAY first observed 2024; modules PROPULSION 2148 kg (SHAPE instrument exoplanets) + VIKRAM LANDER 1752 kg (4 throttleable engines legs strengthened; ChaSTE + ILSA + RAMBHA-LP + LRA NASA) + PRAGYAN ROVER 26 kg (6 wheels solar; LIBS + APXS); no orbiter reused Chandrayaan-2 orbiter for relay; PRAGYAN ROVER traversed ~100 m for 14 Earth days = 1 lunar day; LIBS 28 AUG 2023 CONFIRMED SULPHUR IN SOUTH POLAR REGOLITH first in situ detection; detected Al Ca Fe Cr Ti Mn Si O hydrogen search continued; ChaSTE soil temp 70°C surface to -10°C at 8 cm; ILSA recorded seismic event 26 Aug 2023 (natural); RAMBHA-LP measured plasma density; SHAPE on propulsion module characterise habitable exoplanets; put to sleep lunar night DID NOT WAKE 22 SEPT 2023 extreme cold; COST Rs 615 CRORE ~US$74 m less than Hollywood Interstellar ~$165 m.
Frequently asked questions
When did Chandrayaan-3 land on the Moon?
At 18:04 IST on 23 August 2023 — at 69.37°S, 32.35°E, near the south pole. India became the 4th country to soft-land on the Moon and the 1st near the south pole.
What is Shiv Shakti Point?
PM Narendra Modi named the Chandrayaan-3 landing site “Shiv Shakti Point” on 26 August 2023 at ISTRAC Bengaluru. He also declared 23 August as National Space Day (first observed 2024) + named Chandrayaan-2 crash site “Tiranga Point”.
What did Chandrayaan-3 discover?
Sulphur in the south polar regolith — first in situ detection (28 Aug 2023, LIBS instrument). Also detected Al, Ca, Fe, Cr, Ti, Mn, Si, O. ChaSTE profiled soil temperature; ILSA recorded a seismic event.
How much did Chandrayaan-3 cost?
Rs 615 crore (~US$74 million) — remarkably low cost. Less than the budget of the Hollywood film Interstellar (~$165 m), a viral comparison.