Chandrayaan-1 , All Set To Realize Indian’s Dream

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INDIA'S FIRST MISSION TO MOON



India is all set to realize it’s dream. The countdown has entered it’s final hours at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, India.

On Wednesday October 22, 2008 at 6.20 am IST, when engines ignite, a 1,304-kg rocket will blasts off into space - a dream will be realized.



The launch will put India into an Asian space race. It will be a small step for mankind, but a giant leap forward for India.

The dream, which will take India to new heights with the mission to moon - Chandrayaan-1. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C11), will put Chandrayaan-1, into orbit.

Chandrayaan-1, lunar mission is the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)’s first attempt to propel a spacecraft beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. This Moon mission project is estimated at a cost Rs 386 crore.

Chandrayaan-1 is on a 2 year mission to perform high-resolution remote sensing of the moon in the visible, near-infrared (NIR), low-energy X-ray and high-energy X-ray regions.

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N Bhandari1,2
1Planetary Sciences and Exploration Program, Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura,
Ahmedabad 380 009, India.
2Basic Sciences Research Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, India.

The primary objectives of the Chandrayaan-1 mission are simultaneous chemical, mineralogical
and topographic mapping of the lunar surface at high spatial resolution. These data should enable
us to understand compositional variation of major elements, which in turn, should lead to a better
understanding of the stratigraphic relationships between various litho units occurring on the lunar
surface. The major element distribution will be determined using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer
(LEX), sensitive in the energy range of 1–10 keV where Mg, Al, Si, Ca and Fe give their Kα
lines. A solar X-ray monitor (SXM) to measure the energy spectrum of solar X-rays, which are
responsible for the fluorescent X-rays, is included. Radioactive elements like Th will be measured by
its 238.6 keV line using a low energy gamma-ray spectrometer (HEX) operating in the 20–250 keV
region. The mineral composition will be determined by a hyper-spectral imaging spectrometer
(HySI) sensitive in the 400–920 nm range. The wavelength range is further extended to 2600 nm
where some spectral features of the abundant lunar minerals and water occur, by using a nearinfrared
spectrometer (SIR-2), similar to that used on the Smart-1 mission, in collaboration with
ESA. A terrain mapping camera (TMC) in the panchromatic band will provide a three-dimensional
map of the lunar surface with a spatial resolution of about 5 m. Aided by a laser altimeter (LLRI)
to determine the altitude of the lunar craft, to correct for spatial coverage by various instruments,
TMC should enable us to prepare an elevation map with an accuracy of about 10m.
Four additional instruments under international collaboration are being considered. These are:
a Miniature Imaging Radar Instrument (mini-SAR), Sub Atomic Reflecting Analyser (SARA),
the Moon Mineral Mapper (M3) and a Radiation Monitor (RADOM). Apart from these scientific
payloads, certain technology experiments have been proposed, which may include an impactor
which will be released to land on the Moon during the mission.
Salient features of the mission are described here. The ensemble of instruments onboard
Chandrayaan-1 should enable us to accomplish the science goals defined for this mission.

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INDIA'S FIRST MISSION TO MOON CHANDRAYAAN - 1


Announcement of Opportunity (AO)



Purpose of the Announcement of Opportunity (AO)

Through this First Announcement of Opportunity (AO) in the series, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) solicits Proposals from International and Indian Scientific Community for participating in the mission by providing suitable scientific payloads for Chandrayaan-1.

Chandrayaan-1: Mission Definition and Goal

Chardrayaan-1 is the first Indian Mission to the Moon devoted to high-resolution remote sensing of the lunar surface features in visible, near infrared, X-ray and low energy gamma ray regions. This will be accomplished using several payloads already selected for the mission. In addition a total of about 10 kg payload weight and 10 W power are earmarked for proposals, which are now solicited. The mission is proposed to be a lunar polar orbiter at an altitude of about 100 km and is planned to be launched by 2007-2008 using indigenous spacecraft and launch vehicle of ISRO. The mission is expected to have an operational life of about 2 years.

Mission Objectives

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Carry out high resolution mapping of topographic features in 3D, distribution of various minerals and elemental chemical species including radioactive nuclides covering the entire lunar surface using a set of remote sensing payloads. The new set of data would help in unravelling mysteries about the origin and evolution of solar system in general and that of the moon in particular.

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Realize the mission goal of harnessing the science payloads, lunar craft and the launch vehicle with suitable ground support system including DSN station, integration and testing, launching and achieving lunar orbit of ~100 km, in-orbit operation of experiments, communication/telecommand, telemetry data reception, quick look data and archival for scientific utilization by identified group of scientists.

Specific areas of study

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High resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging of permanently shadowed north and south polar regions

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Search for surface or sub-surface water-ice on the moon, specially at lunar pole

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Identification of chemical end members of lunar high land rocks

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Chemical stratigraphy of lunar crust by remote sensing of central upland of large lunar craters, South Pole Aitken Region (SPAR) etc., where interior material may be expected

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To map the height variation of the lunar surface features along the satellite track

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Observation of X-ray spectrum greater than 10 keV and stereographic coverage of most of the moon's surface with 5 m resolution, to provide new insights in understanding the moon's origin and evolution