Quick Links
Quick Links
UPSC Exams
Latest Update
Coaching
UPSC Current Affairs
Syllabus
UPSC Notes
Previous Year Papers
UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Papers Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Question Paper UPSC Mains 2024 Model Answers UPSC 2024 Question Papers UPSC 2023 Question Papers UPSC 2022 Question Papers UPSC 2021 Question Papers UPSC 2020 Question Papers UPSC 2019 Question Papers UPSC 2018 Question Papers UPSC 2017 Question Papers UPSC 2016 Question Papers UPSC 2015 Question Papers UPSC 2014 Question Papers UPSC CSAT Question Papers UPSC IFS Previous Year Paper UPSC Assistant Labour Commissioner Previous Question Year Papers UPSC Combined Geo Scientist Previous Year Paper UPSC APFC Previous Year Question Papers UPSC CMS Previous Year Question Paper UPSC EPFO Previous Year Paper UPSC Air Safety Officer Previous Year Papers UPSC SO Steno Previous Year Paper UPSC IES ISS Previous Year Question Papers
Mock Tests
UPSC Editorial
Bilateral Ties
Albania India Relations India Algeria Relations Andorra India Relations India Angola Relations India Antigua Barbuda Relations India Argentina Relations Austria India Relations India Azerbaijan Relations Bahamas India Relations India Bahrain Relations Barbados India Relations India Belarus Relations Belgium India Relations Belize India Relations Benin India Relations Bolivia India Relations India Bosnia Herzegovina Relations India Botswana Relations Brazil India Relations Brunei India Relations Bulgaria India Relations Burundi India Relations Cabo Verde India Relations India Cambodia Relations India Cameroon Relations Canada India Relations India Cayman Islands Relations India Central African Republic Relations India Chad Relations Chile India Relations India Colombia Relations India Comoros Relations India Democratic Republic Of The Congo Relations India Republic Of The Congo Relations India Cook Islands Relations India Costa Rica Relations India Ivory Coast Relations India Croatia Relations India Cyprus Relations India Czech Republic Relations India Djibouti Relations India Dominica Relations India Dominican Republic Relations India Ecuador Relations India El Salvador Relations India Equatorial Guinea Relations India Eritrea Relations Estonia India Relations India Ethiopia Relations India Fiji Relations India Finland Relations India Gabon Relations India Gambia Relations India Georgia Relations Germany India Relations India Ghana Relations India Greece Relations India Grenada Relations India Guatemala Relations India Guinea Relations India Guinea Bissau Relations India Guyana Relations India Haiti Relations India Holy See Relations India Honduras Relations India Hong Kong Relations India Hungary Relations India Iceland Relations India Indonesia Relations India Iran Relations India Iraq Relations India Ireland Relations India Jamaica Relations India Kazakhstan Relations India Kenya Relations India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations India Kiribati Relations India Kuwait Relations India Kyrgyzstan Relations India Laos Relations Latvia India Relations India Lebanon Relations India Lesotho Relations India Liberia Relations Libya India Relations Liechtenstein India Relations India Lithuania Relations India Luxembourg Relations India Macao Relations Madagascar India Relations India Malawi Relations India Mali Relations India Malta Relations India Marshall Islands Relations India Mauritania Relations India Micronesia Relations India Moldova Relations Monaco India Relations India Montenegro Relations India Montserrat Relations India Morocco Relations Mozambique India Relations India Namibia Relations India Nauru Relations Netherlands India Relations India Nicaragua Relations India Niger Relations India Nigeria Relations India Niue Relations India North Macedonia Relations Norway India Relations India Palau Relations India Panama Relations India Papua New Guinea Relations India Paraguay Relations Peru India Relations India Philippines Relations Qatar India Relations India Romania Relations Rwanda India Relations India Saint Kitts And Nevis Relations India Saint Lucia Relations India Saint Vincent And Grenadines Relations India Samoa Relations India Sao Tome And Principe Relations Saudi Arabia India Relations India Senegal Relations Serbia India Relations India Sierra Leone Relations India Singapore Relations India Slovak Republic Relations India Slovenia Relations India Solomon Islands Relations Somalia India Relations India South Sudan Relations India Spain Relations India Sudan Relations Suriname India Relations India Sweden Relations India Syria Relations India Tajikistan Relations Tanzania India Relations India Togo Relations India Tonga Islands Relations India Trinidad And Tobago Relations India Tunisia Relations India Turkmenistan Relations India Turks And Caicos Islands Relations India Tuvalu Relations India Uganda Relations India Ukraine Relations India Uae Relations India Uruguay Relations India Uzbekistan Relations India Vanuatu Relations India Venezuela Relations India British Virgin Islands Relations Yemen India Relations India Zambia Relations India Zimbabwe Relations
Books
Government Schemes
Production Linked Incentive Scheme Integrated Processing Development Scheme Rodtep Scheme Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme Saathi Scheme Uday Scheme Hriday Scheme Samagra Shiksha Scheme India Nishta Scheme Stand Up India Scheme Sahakar Mitra Scheme Mdms Mid Day Meal Scheme Integrated Child Protection Scheme Vatsalya Scheme Operation Green Scheme Nai Roshni Scheme Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme Kalia Scheme Ayushman Sahakar Scheme Nirvik Scheme Fame India Scheme Kusum Scheme Pm Svanidhi Scheme Pmvvy Scheme Pm Aasha Scheme Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme Pradhan Mantri Lpg Panjayat Scheme Mplads Scheme Svamitva Scheme Pat Scheme Udan Scheme Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat Scheme National Pension Scheme Ujala Scheme Operation Greens Scheme Gold Monetisation Scheme Family Planning Insurance Scheme Target Olympic Podium Scheme
Topics
NASA Space Missions
NASA Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 6 (Friendship 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 7 (Aurora 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7) Mission NASA Gemini 3 Mission NASA Gemini 4 Mission NASA Gemini 5 Mission NASA Gemini 7 Mission NASA Gemini 8 Mission NASA Gemini 9 Mission NASA Gemini 10 Mission NASA Gemini 11 Mission NASA Gemini 12 Mission NASA Apollo 1 (AS‑204) Mission NASA Apollo 7 Mission NASA Apollo 8 Mission NASA Apollo 9 Mission NASA Apollo 10 Mission NASA Apollo 11 Mission NASA Apollo 12 Mission NASA Apollo 13 Mission NASA Apollo 14 Mission NASA Apollo 15 Mission NASA Apollo 16 Mission NASA Apollo 17 Mission NASA Skylab Orbital Workshop Mission NASA Skylab 2 Mission NASA Skylab 3 Mission NASA Skylab 4 Mission NASA Apollo–Soyuz Test Project Mission NASA STS‑1 Columbia Mission NASA STS‑3 Columbia Mission NASA STS‑7 Challenger Mission NASA STS‑8 Challenger Mission NASA STS‑41B Challenger Mission NASA STS‑41G Discovery (1st female EVA) Mission NASA STS‑51L Challenger (accident) Mission NASA STS‑26 Discovery (Return‑to‑Flight) Mission NASA STS‑31 Discovery (Hubble Launch) Mission NASA STS‑49 Endeavour (first capture EVA) Mission NASA STS‑61 Endeavour (Hubble Servicing 1) Mission NASA STS‑73 Columbia (microgravity) Mission NASA STS‑95 Discovery (John Glenn returns) Mission NASA STS‑107 Columbia (accident) Mission NASA STS‑114 Discovery (RTF‑2) Mission NASA STS‑120 Discovery (Node 2) Mission NASA STS‑125 Atlantis (Final Hubble Service) Mission NASA STS‑132 Atlantis Mission NASA STS‑135 Atlantis (Final Shuttle flight) Mission NASA Artemis I (Orion/ SLS‑1) Mission NASA Artemis II (Planned) Mission NASA Artemis III (Planned lunar landing) Mission NASA Mariner 4 Mission NASA Mariner 6 Mission NASA Mariner 7 Mission NASA Mariner 9 Mission NASA Viking 1 Orbiter/Lander Mission NASA Viking 2 Orbiter/Lander Mission NASA Mars Pathfinder & Sojourner Mission NASA Mars Global Surveyor Mission NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission NASA Mars Exploration Rover – Spirit Mission NASA Mars Exploration Rover – Opportunity Mission NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission NASA Phoenix Mars Lander Mission NASA InSight Mars Lander Mission NASA Mars 2020 (Perseverance & Ingenuity) Mission NASA Mars Sample Return – SRL (planned) Mission NASA Pioneer 10 Mission NASA Pioneer 11 Mission NASA Voyager 1 Mission NASA Voyager 2 Mission NASA Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probe Mission NASA Cassini–Huygens Mission NASA New Horizons (Pluto & KBO) Mission NASA Juno Mission NASA Europa Clipper (planned) Mission NASA Parker Solar Probe Mission NASA Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA Surveyor 1 Mission NASA Lunar Orbiter 1 Mission NASA Lunar Prospector Mission NASA LCROSS Mission NASA LADEE Mission NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission NASA CAPSTONE Mission NASA VIPER Rover (planned) Mission NASA NEAR Shoemaker Mission NASA Deep Space 1 Mission NASA Stardust Mission NASA Genesis Mission NASA Deep Impact Mission NASA Dawn (Vesta/Ceres) Mission NASA OSIRIS‑REx Mission NASA Lucy Mission NASA DART Mission NASA Landsat‑1 (ERTS‑1) Mission NASA Landsat‑5 Mission NASA Landsat‑9 Mission NASA Terra Mission NASA Aqua Mission NASA Aura Mission NASA Suomi NPP Mission NASA Sentinel‑6 Michael Freilich Mission NASA ICESat‑2 Mission NASA GRACE‑FO Mission NASA SMAP Mission NASA GPM Core Observatory Mission NASA CALIPSO Mission NASA CloudSat Mission NASA NISAR (NASA‑ISRO) Mission NASA Explorer 1 Mission NASA COBE Mission NASA Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Mission NASA Hubble Space Telescope Mission NASA Chandra X‑ray Observatory Mission NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Mission NASA WISE Mission NASA Kepler Mission NASA TESS Mission NASA Fermi Gamma‑ray Space Telescope Mission NASA NICER Mission NASA IXPE Mission NASA Roman Space Telescope (planned) Mission NASA NuSTAR Mission NASA GALEX Mission NASA Swift Mission NASA SOHO (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA Cluster II (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA TIMED Mission NASA STEREO‑A/B Mission NASA MMS Mission NASA IRIS Mission NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory Mission NASA X‑37B OTV‑1 (USAF/NASA liaison) Mission NASA X‑59 QueSST Mission NASA Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Mission NASA Valkyrie R5 Robot Mission NASA Low‑Boom Flight Demo Mission NASA CRS‑1 Dragon Mission NASA CRS‑1 Cygnus Mission NASA Crew Dragon Demo‑2 Mission NASA Starliner OFT‑2 Mission NASA STS-2 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-4 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-5 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-6 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-41C (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-41D (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-51A (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-61C (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-26 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-27 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-29 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-30 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-32 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-34 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-38 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-45 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-60 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-70 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-71 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-73 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-88 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-92 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-97 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-99 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-100 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-104 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-106 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-110 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-112 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-115 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-116 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-117 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-118 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-120 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-122 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-123 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-126 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-130 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA Vanguard 1 Mission NASA Transit 1B Mission NASA Echo 1 Mission NASA Telstar 1 Mission NASA Syncom 3 Mission NASA ATS‑6 Mission NASA Skynet Mission NASA Nimbus‑1 Mission NASA Nimbus‑7 Mission NASA ERS-1 Mission NASA SeaSat Mission NASA QuikSCAT Mission NASA Jason‑1 Mission NASA Jason‑3 Mission NASA ICESat Mission NASA Earth Observing‑1 Mission NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory‑2 Mission NASA CYGNSS Mission NASA PACE Mission NASA TRMM Mission NASA Terrestrial Planet Finder (cxl) Mission NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Mission NASA Explorer 33 Mission NASA Voyager Interstellar Mission Mission NASA Helios‑A Mission NASA Helios‑B Mission NASA ISEE‑3 (ICE) Mission NASA ACE Mission NASA DSCOVR Mission NASA IBEX Mission NASA Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager Mission NASA SAGE‑III ISS Mission NASA SPACE Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Mission NASA ARIEL (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA OSAM‑1 (Restore‑L) Mission NASA Dragonfly (Titan rotorcraft) Mission NASA VERITAS (Venus orbiter) Mission NASA DAVINCI (Venus probe) Mission NASA SPHEREx Mission NASA MAGGIE (Mars Geophysical) Mission NASA CLPS – Peregrine Mission NASA CLPS – VIPER Delivery Mission NASA CAPSTONE Mission NASA Gateway (HALO / PPE) Mission NASA Mars Telecommunication Orbiter (cxl) Mission NASA Mars Polar Lander (MPL) Mission NASA Mars Climate Orbiter Mission NASA Pathfinder Mission Mission NASA SLS Block 1B (Exploration Upper Stage) Mission NASA Orion Crew Module Mission NASA Commercial LEO Destinations – Axiom Station Mission NASA ISS Expedition 1 Mission NASA ISS Expedition 70 Mission NASA CRS‑11 (Dragon) Mission NASA CRS‑21 (Dragon 2) Mission NASA Snoopy CubeSat Mission
ISRO Space Missions
NVS-02 ISRO Space Mission SPADEX-A ISRO Space Mission SPADEX-B ISRO Space Mission Proba-3 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-N2 ISRO Space Mission EOS-08 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3DS ISRO Space Mission XPoSat ISRO Space Mission Aditya-L1 ISRO Space Mission Chandrayaan-3 ISRO Space Mission NVS-01 ISRO Space Mission EOS-07 ISRO Space Mission INS-2B ISRO Space Mission EOS-06 ISRO Space Mission EOS-02 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-24 ISRO Space Mission INS-2TD ISRO Space Mission EOS-04 ISRO Space Mission EOS-03 ISRO Space Mission CMS-01 ISRO Space Mission EOS-01 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-30 ISRO Space Mission RISAT-2BR1 ISRO Space Mission Chandrayaan 2 ISRO Space Mission RISAT-2B ISRO Space Mission EMISAT ISRO Space Mission GSAT-31 ISRO Space Mission Microsat-R ISRO Space Mission GSAT-7A ISRO Space Mission GSAT-11 ISRO Space Mission HysIS ISRO Space Mission GSAT-29 ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1I ISRO Space Mission GSAT-6A ISRO Space Mission INS-1C ISRO Space Mission Microsat ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1H ISRO Space Mission GSAT-17 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-19 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-9 ISRO Space Mission Cartosat-2 Series Satellite INS-1A ISRO Space Mission INS-1B ISRO Space Mission RESOURCESAT-2A ISRO Space Mission GSAT-18 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3DR ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1G ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1F ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1E ISRO Space Mission GSAT-15 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-6 ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1D ISRO Space Mission Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) ISRO Space Mission GSAT-16 ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1C ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1B ISRO Space Mission GSAT-14 ISRO Space Mission Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft GSAT-7 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3D ISRO Space Mission IRNSS-1A ISRO Space Mission SARAL ISRO Space Mission GSAT-10 ISRO Space Mission RISAT-1 ISRO Space Mission Megha-Tropiques ISRO Space Mission GSAT-12 ISRO Space Mission GSAT-8 ISRO Space Mission RESOURCESAT-2 ISRO Space Mission YOUTHSAT ISRO Space Mission GSAT-5P ISRO Space Mission GSAT-4 ISRO Space Mission Oceansat-2 ISRO Space Mission RISAT-2 ISRO Space Mission Chandrayaan-1 ISRO Space Mission IMS-1 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-4CR ISRO Space Mission INSAT-4B ISRO Space Mission SRE-1 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-4C ISRO Space Mission INSAT-4A ISRO Space Mission HAMSAT ISRO Space Mission EDUSAT ISRO Space Mission IRS-P6 / RESOURCESAT-1 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3E ISRO Space Mission GSAT-2 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3A ISRO Space Mission KALPANA-1 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3C ISRO Space Mission GSAT-1 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-3B ISRO Space Mission Oceansat(IRS-P4) ISRO Space Mission INSAT-2E ISRO Space Mission IRS-1D ISRO Space Mission INSAT-2D ISRO Space Mission IRS-P3 ISRO Space Mission IRS-1C ISRO Space Mission INSAT-2C ISRO Space Mission IRS-P2 ISRO Space Mission SROSS-C2 ISRO Space Mission IRS-1E ISRO Space Mission INSAT-2B ISRO Space Mission INSAT-2A ISRO Space Mission SROSS-C ISRO Space Mission IRS-1B ISRO Space Mission INSAT-1D ISRO Space Mission INSAT-1C ISRO Space Mission SROSS-2 ISRO Space Mission IRS-1A ISRO Space Mission SROSS-1 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-1B ISRO Space Mission Rohini Satellite RS-D2 ISRO Space Mission INSAT-1A ISRO Space Mission Bhaskara-II ISRO Space Mission Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) ISRO Rohini Satellite RS-D1 ISRO Space Mission Rohini Satellite RS-1 ISRO Space Mission Rohini Technology Payload (RTP) ISRO Space Mission Bhaskara-I ISRO Space Mission Aryabhata ISRO Space Mission
Home / IAS Preparation / Science and Technology Notes / Chandrayaan UPSC

Chandrayaan UPSC: Launch Date, Objectives, Discoveries & Challenges

Last Updated on Jun 19, 2025
Also Read Chandrayaan UPSC in Hindi
Download As PDF
IMPORTANT LINKS
Agriculture Notes For UPSC Public Administration UPSC Notes Modern History Books For UPSC Overseas Citizen Of India Caste System & Panchayati Raj Godavari River Federalism In India Indira Point New Development Bank Battle Of Sinhagad Sankalp And Strive Schemes Digital India High Yielding Varieties Economic Growth Development League Of Nations Ease Of Doing Business Mid Day Meal Scheme Wildlife Protection Act 1972 UPSC Notes International Union Conservation Nature

The Chandrayaan program is India's lunar exploration initiative, consisting of Chandrayaan-1, 2, and 3. Chandrayaan-1 (2008) mapped the Moon and discovered water molecules. Chandrayaan-2 (2019) aimed for a soft landing, but only the orbiter succeeded. Chandrayaan-3 (2023) achieved a successful soft landing near the south pole, deploying the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover for scientific experiments, advancing India's lunar exploration efforts. 

This article supports UPSC examination preparation by covering the details of Chandrayaan Mission 1, Chandrayaan Mission 2, Chandrayaan Mission 3, and Chandrayaan Mission 4, including their objectives, future missions, impacts, and significance, which are useful for both the preliminary exam and mains exam.

- www.amglogisticsinc.net
📚 Exclusive Free UPSC Notes Created by Our Experts

Syllabus 

General Studies Paper III

Prelims 

Science and Technology

Mains

Science & Technology, Earth Science, Space Technology
Subjects PDF Link
Download Free Ancient History Notes PDF Created by UPSC Experts Download Link
Grab the Free Economy Notes PDF used by UPSC Aspirants Download Link
Get your hands on the most trusted Free UPSC Environmental Notes PDF Download Link
Exclusive Free Indian Geography PDF crafted by top mentors Download Link
UPSC Toppers’ trusted notes, Now FREE for you. Download the Polity Notes PDF today! Download Link
Thousands of UPSC aspirants are already using our FREE UPSC notes. Get World Geography Notes PDF Here Download Link

What is the Chandrayaan Mission?

The Chandrayaan Mission is India's lunar exploration program, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It aims to study the Moon's surface, mineral composition, and potential water ice deposits. The program includes Chandrayaan-1 (2008), which discovered water molecules on the Moon, Chandrayaan-2 (2019), which attempted a soft landing but faced challenges, and Chandrayaan-3 (2023), which successfully landed near the lunar south pole. 

FREEMentorship Program by
Ravi Kapoor, Ex-IRS
UPSC Exam-Hacker, Author, Super Mentor, MA
100+ Success Stories
Key Highlights
Achieve your Goal with our mentorship program, offering regular guidance and effective exam strategies.
Cultivate a focused mindset for exam success through our mentorship program.
2 Lakh+ Students Mentored Get
Get Free Mentorship Now
UPSC Beginners Program

Get UPSC Beginners Program SuperCoaching @ just

₹50000

Claim for free
Want to know more about this pass ?
Explore SuperCoaching

Objectives of Chandrayaan Mission

The Chandrayaan Mission aims to explore the Moon, analyse its surface, detect water molecules, demonstrate soft landings, and enhance India’s space technology capabilities. 

  • Lunar Exploration: Study the Moon's surface, mineral composition, and geological structure.
  • Water Detection: Confirm the presence of water molecules in lunar soil.
  • Soft Landing Demonstration: Test and achieve controlled landings on the Moon.
  • Rover Deployment: Deploy rovers for in-situ scientific experiments.
  • Technological Advancements: Enhance India's capabilities in space navigation and exploration.
  • Data Collection: Gather crucial insights for future lunar missions.
  • Global Collaboration: Contribute to international lunar research efforts.

Importance & Benefits

  • The Moon’s pristine environment aids research in planetary formation
  • Supports future space travel and exoplanet exploration
  • Positions India as the 4th nation to land on the Moon
  • Boosts national pride, inspires youth, and encourages scientific innovation
  • Strengthens India’s manufacturing industry with high-precision components
  • Encourages entrepreneurship in the space sector
  • Women-led mission: Ritu Kridhal & M Vanitha played key roles

Download the Key Takeaways on the Chandrayaan Mission notes PDF

Chandryaan Mission 1

Chandrayaan-1 suggests possible rusting at the Moon's poles. Launched in 2008 by ISRO, the mission's Mineralogy Mapper (M3) detected hematite (Fe₂O₃), an iron oxide requiring oxygen and water to form, despite the Moon lacking both. NASA recently found higher metal concentrations, including iron and titanium, beneath the lunar surface.

Possible Reasons for Lunar Rusting

Scientists propose that Earth's oxygen may contribute to hematite formation. Earth's magnetotail transports oxygen to the Moon while blocking 99% of solar wind, which contains hydrogen. Since hydrogen prevents rusting by adding electrons, its reduction during certain orbital phases may facilitate hematite formation.

Chandrayaan Missions & Global Lunar Efforts

  • Chandrayaan-3 aimed for a 2021 launch, following Chandrayaan-2, which hard-landed in 2019. Unlike Chandrayaan-2, it lacked an orbiter and focused on landing.
  • NASA's Artemis Program plans a Moon landing in 2024 with the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface.
  • India's Gaganyaan Mission seeks to send a three-member crew into space for 5–7 days in honour of India's 75th Independence anniversary.

Chandrayaan -1 & Key Discoveries

India's first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1 (2008), focused on orbiting and surface mapping. It operated for 312 days, achieving 95% of objectives, and confirmed:

  • Lunar water molecules
  • Lunar caves formed by lava flows
  • Past tectonic activity and meteorite impact features

Scientific Impact & Future Research

These discoveries reshape knowledge of lunar polar regions, suggesting Earth’s influence on the Moon’s surface evolution. Further studies are needed to understand water interactions with lunar rock, which could hold critical clues for future Moon exploration.

Chandryaan Mission 2

India launched Chandrayaan-2 on July 22, 2019, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, marking its second lunar exploration mission. It features an orbiter, lander, and rover, aiming for a soft landing on September 7, 2019—ISRO's first attempt to land on an extraterrestrial surface.

Background

Initially planned in 2007 in partnership with Russia’s ROSCOSMOS, the mission was delayed due to Russia’s inability to develop the lander. India later independently developed the mission and successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 aboard GSLV MK III M1, aspiring to become the fourth nation to soft-land on the Moon.

Chandrayaan -2: Mission Design

An integrated spacecraft weighing 3,877 kg, Chandrayaan-2 consists of:

  • Orbiter (2,379 kg) studying the Moon’s surface and water distribution for 1 year
  • Lander (Vikram) analyses the lunar atmosphere and seismic activity
  • Rover (Pragyan) crawling on the surface to examine composition and element distribution

The mission sequence involves Earth manoeuvres, trans-lunar injection, lunar burns, lander separation, descent, and rover deployment.

Mission Challenges

Chandrayaan-2 involved complex developments, including:

  • Launching India's heaviest rocket (GSLV Mk III)
  • Ensuring trajectory accuracy for precise Moon arrival
  • Landing safely amid extreme temperature variations, craters, dust, and solar radiation
  • Managing low sunlight exposure at the South Pole, which affects solar-powered instruments
  • Narrow margin for error, as seen in Israel’s recent lunar landing failure

Chandrayaan-3 

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission marks a historic milestone, achieving the first-ever soft landing near the Moon's south pole. This success strengthens India's leadership in space exploration, paving the way for future advancements.

Overview

Launched on July 14, 2023, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Chandrayaan-3 entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023, and successfully landed on August 23, 2023. It is India's third lunar mission and second attempt at a soft landing.

Mission Components

ISRO Moon Mission Chandrayaan 3 consists of:

  • Propulsion Module: Carries the lander and rover to 100 km lunar orbit, equipped with SHAPE payload to study Earth's spectral properties
  • Lander Module (Vikram): Conducts thermal, seismic, and plasma density studies
  • Rover Module (Pragyan): Analyses lunar surface composition using APXS and LIBS instruments

Major Findings

  • Unexpected Lunar Surface Temperature: ChaSTE recorded 70°C, exceeding predictions
  • Elemental Confirmation: Pragyan's LIBS detected Sulfur, Aluminium, Calcium, Iron, Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon, and Oxygen

Challenges in India's Space Program

  • Budget Constraints: India’s space budget is 0.05% of GDP, compared to 0.25% in the US
  • Technological Gaps: Reliance on foreign components for spacecraft and satellites
  • Limited Market Presence: India holds only 2.6% of the global space economy
  • Policy & Legislation Delays: Indian Space Policy 2023 lacks a clear timeline
  • Space Debris Management: Requires effective mitigation strategies
  • Geopolitical Considerations: Artemis Accords position India strategically against China
  • Competitive Edge: Innovation and cost-effective execution are crucial

Chandrayaan -4 Mission

Following Chandrayaan-3's success, ISRO is now focusing on Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample-return mission. This ambitious project aims to soft-land on the Moon, collect lunar rock samples, and return them to Earth. If successful, India will join the U.S., Russia, and China in achieving this milestone.

Mission Strategy & Components

Chandrayaan-4 involves five distinct spacecraft components:

  • Propulsion System: Transports the lander and ascender to the Moon
  • Descender: Facilitates lunar landing and carries soil sampling equipment
  • Ascender: Detaches after sample collection and lifts off from the Moon
  • Transfer Module: Receives samples from the Ascender and moves them to the Re-entry Module
  • Re-entry Module: Ensures safe return of lunar samples to Earth

Payload Details

  • Lunar Propulsion Module: Transports lander and ascender to the Moon
  • Lunar Lander: Touches down, carrying scientific instruments for sample collection
  • Lunar Module Ascender: Detaches, ascends to lunar orbit, and prepares for docking
  • Transfer Module: Moves samples from Ascender to Re-entry Module
  • Re-entry Module: Safely returns lunar samples to Earth

Dual Rocket Launch Strategy

Chandrayaan-4 will use two different rockets:

  • Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LMV-3): Carries propulsion, descender, and ascender modules
  • Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV): Transports transfer and re-entry modules to lunar orbit

These rockets will launch on separate dates, with the earliest launch expected after 2028.

Advanced Technology & SPADEX Experiment

The mission’s success depends on successful docking between the Ascender and Transfer Module in lunar orbit. ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) will test orbital rendezvous, docking, and formation flying, crucial for Chandrayaan-4.

Significance for India’s Space Program
  • Global Leadership: Joins Russia, the US, and China in lunar soft landing capability
  • Strategic Advancements: Supports refuelling, docking, and robotic space missions
  • Scientific Contributions: Confirms water ice presence, validates lunar history, and detects subsurface water ice
  • Defence & Aerospace Insights: Enhances missile defense and reusable launch vehicle technology
  • Economic & Commercial Growth: Boosts space tourism, disaster management, and infrastructure monitoring

Mission Status & Future Prospects
  • ISRO has finalised Chandrayaan 4’s design, with a tentative launch in 2027
  • The mission is more complex than Chandrayaan-3, requiring two space docking operations
  • Government approval is pending
  • Chandrayaan-5’s design is complete, but its objectives and timeline remain undisclosed

Way Forward for India’s Space Sector
  1. Greater Investment: It is imperative to go beyond the cheap engineering to bigger investments and bold missions. The science community presses to increase budgetary allocations to the advanced space programs.
  2. Human Spaceflight: India needs to develop expertise in the human spaceflight area, such as training astronauts and the infrastructure required to support human spaceflight.
  3. Private Sector Participation: The Space industry in India will be consistent with trends in the rest of the world by encouraging the participation of the private sector, which will lead to commercialisation and innovation.
  4. Geopolitical Strategy: Space competition is bound to increase, and India will have to tactically negotiate international discussions, especially concerning China and other space-dominating nations.
  5. Sound Legal Regime: An elaborate domestic and international legal framework is needed to govern and validate space commerce and space governance reforms.
  6. Reinvigorating International Cooperation: The renewal of international cooperation will make outer space a common area of shared advancement in space exploration.
  7. Publicity and Populace Support: The government must undertake publicity and education programs that will foster the rise of excitement and approval of the expanding space program in India.

Conclusion

The Chandrayaan program has helped India in many ways in terms of lunar exploration, scientific discoveries, as well as technological advances.

  1. The confirmation of the existence of water molecules on the Moon by Chandrayaan-1 (2008) was one of the major milestones in planetary science.
  2. More recently, Chandrayaan-2 (2019) also targeted a soft landing, although the lander component of the mission failed, the orbiter is still functional, taking important measurements of the moon.
  3. Chandrayaan-3 (2023) created history as the first successful soft landing by India and successful arrival at the south pole of the Moon, and validation of important elemental compositions.
  4. Chandrayaan-4 (Planned) will retrieve lunar samples, which will demonstrate the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) competence in sample-return missions, an essential milestone in further space exploration.

Collectively, the missions have established India as a force to reckon with in space science research across the world, with characteristics of scientific creativity, engineering capabilities, and strategic thinking. Indian lunar exploration is exciting, and Chandrayaan will open the door to interplanetary missions, space sustainability, and sophisticated aerospace technologies. 

More Articles for IAS Preparation

FAQ's on Chandrayaan Mission

Chandrayaan-1 (2008) aimed to map the Moon’s surface and confirmed the presence of water molecules.

Chandrayaan-2 (2019) included an orbiter, lander, and rover. While the orbiter succeeded, the lander crashed during descent.

Chandrayaan-3 (2023) successfully landed near the lunar south pole, deploying a rover for surface exploration.

Chandrayaan-4 (planned) will be India's first lunar sample return mission, bringing back lunar regolith to Earth.

Understanding the Moon's formation helps scientists learn about the history of the solar system, including Earth.

It is India's lunar exploration initiative led by ISRO, consisting of multiple missions to study the Moon.
Report An Error
Exams Tests Super Practice