Chandrayaan-3: ISRO completes major test of India's 3rd expedition to the Moon

Chandrayaan-3 mission has passed a major hurdle as ISRO successfully completed Integrated Module Dynamic Tests. As part of test, which was carried out at  UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was subjected to intense vibrations and sound similar to what it would experience during rocket launch. Such tests are a standard procedure before launching a spacecraft to validate wher it is durable enough to survive a rocket launch to space. According to ISRO, test was conducted in first week of March. 

( Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft at U R Rao space centre; Image: ISRO)

(Image: ISRO)

"se tests were particularly challenging, considering fact that Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is a composite of three modules viz. Propulsion Module, Lander Module and Rover module," an official statement by agency re. " vibration and acoustic tests carried out on integrated spacecraft has provided sufficient confidence on structural integrity and survivability in launch environment," it furr re. 

India's 3rd lunar mission targeted for launch in June

Chandrayaan-3, which is India's third expedition to Moon, is targeted for launch in mid-2023. Agency chief S Somanath, in October last year, said that mission will be launched in month of June which could be possible if re are no delays owing to technical hurdles. Back n, Somanath said that final integration and testing are "almost complete" and a launch in June is what scientists are aiming for. 

Chandrayaan-3 comprises of three major components out of which  lander-rover combination has a life span of one lunar day or 14 Earth days. mission overall is dedicated to investigate  variation in near-surface plasma density, measuring rmal properties of lunar surface, measuring seismicity around landing site in south pole and ultimately understand dynamics of Moon. Prior to this, re was Chandrayaan-2 mission which launched on July 22 in 2019. Mission controllers were successful in injecting an orbiter in lunar orbit but failed to land a rover after losing communication just few km above surface.

Chandrayaan-1, on or hand, was India's debut mission to Moon that launched on October 22, 2008, and concluded in 2009 after communications with orbital spacecraft was lost on August 29 of same year. orbiter carried 11 instruments with contributions from US, UK, Germany, Sweden and Bulgaria and it me more than 3,400 orbits in its lifetime.