On 20th August 2023, Roscosmos ( the State Space Corporation of the Russian Federation) announced that Luna-25 had crash-landed on the Moon’s surface during pre-landing manoeuvres.
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Now whole world is watching the Chandrayaan-3 ( launched by ISRO), which is readying for its the powered descent at Moon Surface at 6:05 p.m. on 23.08.2023.
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Russia’s first moon mission Luna -25 and India’s Chandrayaan-3
Luna-25 probe was scheduled to make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface on August 21 2023, which is two days ahead of Indian Moon Misson -Chandrayaan-3 Probe.
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But, Both Luna-25 & Chandrayaan-3 Probe were supposed to land around 70 degree South latitude ( the lunar south pole) on the Moon.
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ABOUT LUNA-25 MISSION
Luna-25 was Russia’s first moon mission in 47 years. It was launched on August 10, 2023, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia by the Soyuz-2.1b rocket.
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The spacecraft was intended to land on the south pole of the moon and conduct a soft landing.
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It was equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, including a ground-penetrating radar, a drill, and a spectrometer.
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However, Luna-25 failed to reach the moon. On August 20, 2023, Roscosmos announced that the spacecraft had collided with the moon’s surface. The cause of the failure is still under investigation.
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However, Russia is not the only country that has experienced failures in its lunar missions. In recent years, both India and Israel have had unsuccessful attempts to land spacecraft on the moon.
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Despite the failure of Luna-25, now Russia is planning to launch Luna-26, which is scheduled to launch in 2024. These missions will help Russia to learn more about the moon and to prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface.
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Here are some of the probable reasons why Luna-25 might have failed:
A problem with the spacecraft’s propulsion system.
A problem with the spacecraft’s navigation system.
A collision with a micrometeoroid or other space debris.
A software error.
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The exact cause of the failure is still under investigation. The failure of Luna-25 is a setback for Russia’s space program.
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It is also a reminder of the challenges of sending spacecraft to the moon.
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Luna-24 : USSR ’s first Moon mission
Luna-24 was the final lunar spacecraft to be launched by the Soviet Union in the 20th century and the last until Luna-25 in August 2023.
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It was also the last spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon until the landing of China’s Chang’e 3 on 14 December 2013, 37 years later.
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For over 44 years, it was also the last Lunar sample return mission until China’s Chang’e 5 in December 2020.
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Luna-24 was launched on August 9, 1976, and landed on the Moon on August 22, 1976.
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The spacecraft carried a drill that was used to collect 170 grams of lunar soil and rock. The samples were returned to Earth and analyzed by scientists.
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The Luna-24 mission was a success and it helped scientists to learn more about the composition of the lunar surface.
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The mission also helped to pave the way for future lunar missions, such as the Chang’e 3 and Chang’e 5 missions.
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ABOUT INDIA’S CHANDRAYAAN-3
Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It is a soft-landing mission that will attempt to land a lander and rover on the south pole of the moon.
The lander is named Vikram, after the father of the father of ISRO, Vikram Sarabhai.
The rover is named Pragyan, which means “wisdom” in Sanskrit.
Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023 on a GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy lift launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.
The lander and rover are expected to land on the moon on August 23, 2023.
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The main objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are to:
Demonstrate the ability to soft-land on the lunar surface.
Conduct in-situ scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
Study the lunar south pole, which is thought to be rich in water ice.
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ISRO is also working with other space agencies, such as NASA, to ensure the success of the mission.
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NASA is providing the Chandrayaan-3 mission with a lunar orbiter, which will help to track the spacecraft and provide communication support.
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ABOUT INDIA’S CHANDRAYAAN-1
Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first lunar mission.
Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was launched on October 22, 2008, on a PSLV-XL heavy lift launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.
The mission ended on August 29, 2009, when contact with the spacecraft was lost.
The main objectives of Chandrayaan-1 were to:
Map the lunar surface in detail.
Study the chemical composition of the lunar surface.
Search for water ice on the moon.
Here are some of the scientific instruments that were carried by Chandrayaan-1:
Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3): This instrument was used to map the chemical composition of the lunar surface.
Hyperspectral Imager (HySI): This instrument was used to take images of the lunar surface in different wavelengths of light.
Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC): This instrument was used to create a three-dimensional map of the lunar surface.
Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI): This instrument was used to measure the distance between the spacecraft and the moon.
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The loss of contact with Chandrayaan-1 was a setback, but the mission had already achieved its main objectives.
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The data collected by the spacecraft has been used by scientists around the world to learn more about the moon.
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Chandrayaan-1 was a major success. The mission mapped the lunar surface in unprecedented detail and discovered evidence of water ice on the moon.
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Chandrayaan-1 was a milestone in India’s space program and it helped to put India on the map as a leading spacefaring nation.
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ABOUT INDIA’S CHANDRAYAAN-2
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Chandrayaan-2 is the second lunar mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It is a soft-landing mission that was launched on July 22, 2019, on a LVM 3 heavy lift launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.
The lander, Vikram, and rover, Pragyan, were scheduled to land on the lunar south pole on September 7, 2019. However, the Vikram lander lost contact with the ground station during its descent and crashed on the lunar surface.
The main objectives of Chandrayaan-2 were to:
Soft-land on the lunar surface.
Deploy the Pragyan rover to explore the lunar surface.
Study the lunar south pole, which is thought to be rich in water ice.
The failure of the Vikram lander was a setback for the Chandrayaan-2 mission, but the orbiter is still in operation and is collecting data about the moon.
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The orbiter carries eight scientific instruments, including a high-resolution camera, a spectrometer, and a magnetometer.
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The data collected by the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is helping scientists to learn more about the moon, and it will be used to plan future lunar missions.
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Lunar Exploration Program
Chinese lunar exploration programs
The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, also known as the Chang’e Project after the Chinese Moon goddess Chang’e, is an ongoing series of robotic Moon missions by the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The program began with orbiting observatories, Chang’e 1 and Chang’e 2, in 2007 and 2010, respectively.
It continued with a near side lander, Chang’e 3, in 2013, and a rover, Yutu, which became the first spacecraft to operate on the far side of the Moon in 2019.
Chang’e 4, launched in 2018, was the first spacecraft to soft-land on the far side of the Moon. It also carried the first lunar lander to deploy a lander-rover combination.
Chang’e 5, launched in 2020, was the first mission to return samples of lunar soil and rock to Earth since the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission in 1976.
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China’s lunar exploration program is a major part of the country’s ambitious space program, which also includes plans to send astronauts to Mars.
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The program is a sign of China’s growing technological prowess and its increasing role in the global space race.
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USA lunar exploration programs
The Apollo program was the United States’ first attempt to land humans on the moon. It was a major undertaking that lasted from 1961 to 1972. The Apollo program was successful in landing 12 astronauts on the moon and returning them safely to Earth.
The Lunar Orbiter program was a series of robotic missions that were launched by NASA in the 1960s. The Lunar Orbiter program mapped the lunar surface in detail and helped to identify potential landing sites for the Apollo program.
The Surveyor program was a series of robotic missions that were launched by NASA in the 1960s. The Surveyor program landed spacecraft on the moon and conducted experiments to study the lunar surface.
The Clementine mission was a joint mission of NASA and the Italian Space Agency that was launched in 1994. The Clementine mission mapped the lunar surface in detail and searched for water ice.
The Lunar Prospector mission was a NASA mission that was launched in 1998. The Lunar Prospector mission mapped the lunar surface in detail and searched for water ice.
The GRAIL mission was a NASA mission that was launched in 2011. The GRAIL mission mapped the gravity field of the moon and helped to understand the formation of the moon.
The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) was a NASA mission that was launched in 2013. The LADEE mission studied the lunar atmosphere and dust environment.
The Artemis program is the United States’ current lunar exploration program. The Artemis program is named after the Greek goddess Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo. The Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon by 2024 and establish a long-term presence on the moon.
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Japan lunar exploration programs
SELENE (Kaguya) was a lunar orbiter and lander mission launched by JAXA in 2007. It was the first lunar mission launched by Japan since the Hiten mission in 1990. SELENE mapped the lunar surface in unprecedented detail and discovered evidence of water ice on the moon.
OMOTENASHI was a lunar orbiter mission launched by JAXA in 2010. It carried a small rover, MINERVA-II, which was the first Japanese rover to land on the moon. OMOTENASHI also studied the lunar surface and atmosphere.
LUNAR-A was a lunar impactor mission launched by JAXA in 2009. It was designed to study the lunar surface by creating an artificial crater. LUNAR-A was the first Japanese mission to impact the moon.
HAKUTO-R is a planned lunar lander mission that is being developed by JAXA and the University of Tokyo. It is scheduled to launch in 2022 and land on the moon in 2023. HAKUTO-R will study the lunar surface and search for water ice.
SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) is a planned lunar lander mission that is being developed by JAXA. It is scheduled to launch in 2024 and land on the moon in 2025. SLIM will study the lunar surface and search for resources.
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Europe Lunar Exploration Program
SMART-1 was a lunar orbiter mission that was launched by ESA in 2003. It was the first mission to use a solar sail to orbit the moon. SMART-1 mapped the lunar surface in detail and studied the lunar exosphere.
PROSPECT is a planned rover mission that is being developed by ESA. It is scheduled to launch in 2024 and land on the moon in 2025. PROSPECT will search for water ice on the moon.
Lunar Pathfinder is a planned lunar rover mission that is being developed by ESA and the French space agency CNES. It is scheduled to launch in 2026 and land on the moon in 2027. Lunar Pathfinder will study the lunar surface and search for resources.
Lunar Gateway is a planned international lunar space station that is being developed by ESA, NASA, and other international partners. The Lunar Gateway is scheduled to be launched in the early 2020s and will orbit the moon. The Lunar Gateway will serve as a staging ground for future missions to the moon and Mars.
Israel Lunar Exploration Program
Beresheet was a lunar lander mission that was launched by Israel in 2019. It was the first privately funded mission to land on the moon. Beresheet crashed on the moon’s surface during its landing attempt.
SpaceIL is the Israeli non-profit organization that developed the Beresheet mission. SpaceIL is planning to launch a second lunar lander mission, called Beresheet 2, in 2024.
LARGO is a planned lunar rover mission that is being developed by the Israel Space Agency. LARGO is scheduled to launch in 2025 and land on the moon in 2026. LARGO will study the lunar surface and search for resources.
IMPACT is a planned lunar impactor mission that is being developed by the Israel Space Agency. IMPACT is scheduled to launch in 2027 and impact the moon’s surface. IMPACT will study the lunar surface and atmosphere.
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References:
i) https://www.isro.gov.in/
ii) https://www.iafastro.org/
iii) https://www.planetary.org/
iv) https://en.wikipedia.org/
v) https://go4liftoff.com/
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Anybody who wants to add more information regarding these programs , please share their knowledge with us which is very helpful for others.
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