Chandrayaan-3 successfully completes crucial test

Source: The post is based on the article “Chandrayaan-3 successfully completes crucial test” published in The Hindu on 20th February 2023

What is the News?

Chandrayaan-3 has successfully completed EMI/EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) test.

What is the EMI-EMC test?

The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure the functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.

What is Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up to the Chandrayan-2 mission.

The mission has three main objectives which include: a) demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, b) demonstrating the rover’s roving capabilities on the moon and c) performing in-situ scientific observations.

The mission will be launched by GSLV MkIII from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. It is likely to be launched in June 2023.

Modules: It has three major modules. They are – the Propulsion module, Lander module and Rover.

– The propulsion module will carry the Lander and Rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit. The propulsion module has Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

– The Lander payloads have 1) Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature, 2) Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site, 3) Langmuir Probe (LP) to estimate the plasma density and its variations. A passive Laser Retroreflector Array from NASA is accommodated for lunar laser ranging studies.

– The Rover payload has an Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope(LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of the landing site.