Chandrayaan programme

Chandrayaan One Successes

On the 22nd of October 2008, Chandrayaan-1 launched aboard a PSLV rocket. It entered lunar orbit on the 10th of November 2008. Four days later, the Moon Impact Probe hit near Shackleton crater. This event made India the fifth country to reach the lunar surface. The probe detected water molecules using its Chandra's Altitudinal Composition Explorer instrument. NASA confirmed this discovery via their Moon Mineralogy Mapper payload on the 24th of September 2009. The mission intended to last two years but contact was lost on the 28th of August 2009. An overheating issue damaged star sensors which maintained craft orientation. Despite losing contact early, the mission achieved 95% success with its operations. Data from instruments remained useful even a decade later. Dr. Shuai Li used M3 data in 2018 to research lunar water in dark craters. His team found convincing evidence of true water ice at the uppermost surface of the Moon.

When was the Chandrayaan programme officially announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee?

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the project on the 15th of August 2003. Government approval followed in November of that same year.

What date did Chandrayaan-1 launch and when did it enter lunar orbit?

Chandrayaan-1 launched on the 22nd of October 2008 aboard a PSLV rocket. It entered lunar orbit on the 10th of November 2008.

Why did the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash during its descent in September 2019?

Five engines generated higher thrust causing errors to accumulate over time while the lander could not turn fast enough due to limited turning capability. The chosen landing site left too little room for error at an altitude near 2.1 kilometers.

On what date did Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft land on the Moon?

The lander named Vikram successfully soft landed on the 23rd of August 2023. This achievement made India the fourth country to soft land on the Moon.

When is the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission LUPEX scheduled to launch?

The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission named LUPEX targets launch between 2028 and 2029. India collaborates with Japan's JAXA for this lander-rover mission.

Chandrayaan programme.

Chandrayaan One Successes

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Common questions

When was the Chandrayaan programme officially announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee?

What date did Chandrayaan-1 launch and when did it enter lunar orbit?

Why did the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash during its descent in September 2019?

On what date did Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft land on the Moon?

When is the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission LUPEX scheduled to launch?

The Chandrayaan Two Failure

Historic South Pole Landing

Spacecraft Engineering Evolution

Scientific Discoveries And Data

Future Missions And Collaboration