What is the name of the rocket used in Chandrayaan-3?

Introduction

Welcome to the world of space exploration! You must have heard about India’s ambitious space program that has been making groundbreaking strides in the field of astronomy. One of the most talked about projects under this program is Chandrayaan3, which has been making headlines since its conception. In this blog section, we will dive deeper into what Chandrayaan3 is all about and the rocket that will power this mission.

Chandrayaan3 is the name given to India’s third lunar exploration mission. The word ‘Chandrayaan’ translates to “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit, and it perfectly represents the main objective of this mission to explore the moon’s surface and gather scientific data. This project is a part of Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) efforts to expand our understanding of outer space and push boundaries with innovative technologies.

Initially planned to launch in late 2020, Chandrayaan3 is a successor to Chandrayaan2, which gained global recognition for its successful landing on the moon’s south pole in September 2019. The aim of this upcoming mission is to further build upon the discoveries made by Chandrayaan2 and carry out more in depth research on the moon’s geological properties.

Now let’s talk about the rocket that will make Chandrayaan3 possible. The primary launcher for this mission will be GSLV Mk III, also known as Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III. This rocket stands tall at 43 meters and weighs over 640 tons, making it one of ISRO’s most potent rockets to date. It has a two stage engine system with solid propellants in its first stage and liquid propellants in its second stage.

Overview of Chandrayaan-3 mission

For those who may be unfamiliar with it, Chandrayaan means “moon craft” in Sanskrit. It is a combination of “chandra” meaning moon and “yaan” meaning craft or vehicle. The first Chandrayaan mission was launched in 2008 and was successful in orbiting around the moon and discovering evidence of water on its surface. The second mission, which was launched in July 2019, was India’s first attempt at landing on the moon and unfortunately faced technical difficulties leading to a crash landing.

Now, with Chandrayaan3, India is ready to make another leap towards lunar exploration. One of the most exciting aspects of this mission is the name of the rocket that will carry it GSLV Mk III. This is a significant upgrade from the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) used for Chandrayaan1 and 2 missions. The GSLV Mk III is known for its capability of carrying heavier payloads compared to its predecessors.

But why does this matter? The answer lies in the goal of this mission to land on the moon’s surface and explore its south pole region. This region has been an area of interest for scientists as it has shown signs of water molecules present in its soil. A heavier rocket means more equipment and instruments can be carried, increasing our chances of gathering valuable information about the moon’s composition.

Development and launch of Chandrayaan-3

In the world of space exploration, India has made significant strides in recent years with its Chandrayaan program. Launched in 2008, Chandrayaan1 was India’s first lunar mission and it successfully discovered evidence of water molecules on the Moon. It was followed by Chandrayaan2 in 2019, which unfortunately encountered technical difficulties and was not able to land on the Moon as planned.

However, India is not giving up on its lunar aspirations and is all set for the development and launch of Chandrayaan3, the third mission of its Chandrayaan program. In this blog section, we will take a closer look at Chandrayaan3 and the rocket that will be used for this ambitious mission.

Firstly, let’s understand what exactly Chandrayaan is: Chandrayaan3. It is a robotic lunar mission aimed at further exploring the surface of the Moon. Just like its predecessors, it is being developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) with an aim to demonstrate advanced technologies for future missions.

Now, coming to our main focus of discussion, the rocket used for this mission. The GSLV Mk III (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III) will be used to launch Chandrayaan3 into space. This heavy lift rocket was first launched in 2014 and has since been used for various missions including launching satellites into orbit and serving as a testbed for crewed space missions.

Description of the rocket used in Chandrayaan-3

GSLV Mk II:

GSLV Mk II is a medium-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. It has been used for a variety of missions, including communication satellites and Earth observation satellites.
The GSLV Mk II typically has a payload capacity of around 2,000 to 2,500 kilograms to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
This rocket is equipped with solid and liquid propulsion stages.

GSLV Mk III:

GSLV Mk III, also known as LVM3, is a heavy-lift launch vehicle and one of ISRO’s most powerful rockets.
It has been used for significant missions, including the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission and the launch of communication satellites.
GSLV Mk III is capable of carrying payloads of around 4,000 to 4,500 kilograms to GTO.
The rocket features two solid strap-on boosters, a liquid core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25).

Comparison with previous rockets used in Chandrayaan missions

As we eagerly await India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan3, there has been much speculation and excitement about the rocket that will take us there. After all, the rocket plays a crucial role in the success of any space mission. In this blog section, we will be exploring the rocket that will be used for Chandrayaan3 and how it compares to the ones used in previous missions.

First things first, the rocket that will be used for Chandrayaan3 is called the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III or GSLV Mk III in short. This rocket is no stranger to space exploration as it has already successfully launched several missions including Chandrayaan2 and India’s second moon mission Mangalyaan.

But what sets GSLV Mk III apart from its predecessors? To answer this question, let’s take a look at the rockets used in previous Chandrayaan missions. The first mission, Chandrayaan1, was launched in 2008 using a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). This was a smaller and less powerful rocket compared to GSLV Mk III. It had a payload capacity of only 1,380 kg compared to MK III’s payload capacity of 4,000 kg.

The second mission, Chandrayaan2 which took place in 2019, also used a different rocket known as GSLV Mk II. While this rocket was an upgrade from PSLV with a payload capacity of 2,379 kg, it still fell short compared to the MK III.

Latest updates on the rocket for Chandrayaan-3

The rocket used in Chandrayaan3 is called the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle or GSLV. This powerful rocket has been used in previous Chandrayaan missions, proving its reliability and expertise. Let’s dive deeper into understanding more about GSLV and its role in Chandrayaan3.

GSLV is a three stage rocket that is capable of launching satellites into geosynchronous and lowEarth orbits. The first stage consists of four liquid engines that use a combination of liquid propellant fuels UH25 (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine) and N204 (nitrogen tetroxide). These engines provide a total thrust of approximately 477 tonnes, allowing GSLV to take off from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Moving on to the second stage, it consists of a single Vikas engine that uses a different combination of propellants liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This stage provides an additional push to the rocket as it travels towards space.

Lastly, the third stage also has a single engine but uses cryogenic propulsion technology with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants. This advanced technology allows GSLV to reach higher altitudes with greater efficiency.