Chandrayaan - indian mission to moon

The 'Chandrayaan mission' will give Indian scientists an opportunity to become international players in space expedition, giving them an equal footing with their global partners, a top space scientist has said.


"We must go to the moon and this is important because it gives an opportunity for Indian scientists to become international players," K Kasturirangan, Rajya sabha memeber and former Chairman of Indian space Research Organisation (ISRO) said adressing students at Centre for Basic sciences (CBS) here last evening.

"We must become equal global partners just as we are in the Antarctic expeditions," he said.

Via

India's moon mission Chandrayaan-I has reached a major milestone as scientists completed the integration of all instruments onto the spacecraft and are aiming to launch it by September 19.

Mylswamy Annadurai, Project Director of Chandrayaan-I, told PTI, "We are now carrying out detailed integrated tests to ensure all systems work as per the expectations and to record spacecraft level data for future reference"

And another lead scientist added "At present, all these activities lead us to September 19 launch,"


So september 19th it is. Only weather can play spoil spot now. Chandrayaan will ride PSLV to the moon which recently set a world record of launching 10 satellites at one go.

Check out a cool video of chandrayaan-1 mission. you might also like to read the time line of Indian space program.

Latest reports from ISRO indicate that chandrayaan-1 preparation are on schedule and launch will be in September, that is 3 months from now. So what do you think moon is alone for now. NO the moon is buzzing and the world wide aerospace agencies are preparing for the moon. To get to know what are the things going on earth about the moon grab the edition of aerospace America magazine. June 2008 edition has lots of article on humans renewed interest in moon.


For those who came late, chandrayaan-1 is Indian's first mission to the moon. Read more about the chandrayaan mission here. See chandrayaan-1 spacecraft here. Watch video of chandrayaan here and play a simple but addictive chandrayaan game here.

And "Aerospace America" is USA's magazine covering Aviation. It is a source of information on the cutting-edge technologies, policy issues, and business trends that affect the profession.

The magazine's readers and contributors include leaders of the nation's major space, aeronautics, and defense programs as well as premier decision-makers in government, industry, and academia, both national and international.

This magazine is owned by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Read the june 2008 issue of Aerospace America online by clicking this Link

The countdown for the chandrayaan mission begins! Moon mission will launch in September says ISRO. A precise launch date is not still not finalized.

A crucial meeting of the senior scientists at Isro's Satellite Centre has decided that the moon mission could blast off in September. Weather conditions will also determine the precise launch date.

source : times of india

The objectives of the Chandrayaan-I mission are to carry out high resolution mapping of topographic features in 3-D and to harness the science payloads, the lunar craft and the launch vehicle with suitable ground support systems. The mission's spacecraft "would not be landing, but will travel in a polar orbit around the moon and pay special attention to gathering data on the polar icecaps that may contain traces of water.

ISRO's plans to launch 70 missions in the 11th Five Year Plan period (2007-12), which would be three times the number it has "done in the past five years.

Play the chandrayaan game here

This is the second update on the chandrayaan game. Whatever little time i had i did few fixes that i noticed. The changes include the inclusion of visible dust, then there is an animation when the dust is cleared.

The game is still not complete and is in beta stage. Play the new game and do send in your comments...

Basically the aim of the game is simple.

ISRO is about to launch chandrayaan but they are worried about the space dust and debris out there. So you, the NASA astronaut, come to help. You have 10 seconds to clear those debris before chandrayaan is launched. So get cracking. Move your mouse to navigate the astronaut!!

Good luck and hope you like the small game.




I know the game is not perfect, but since this game is done in my spare time, that is 15 or 20 minutes that i get everyday i hope to see some bugs. Please do send in your suggestions and comments.

You might also like
Watch PSLV's record 10 satellite launch
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

Adding a feather to its cap, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its own satellite imagery on the Internet six months from now, rivaling popular mapping service Google Earth.

"Our images are better than good. These images will be on our website six months from now," ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair told news persons here after receiving the Rammohan Puraskar.

Related : Play chandrayaan game

Pointing out that certain locations with high security risks were prohibited by law from being imaged, he said, "We are figuring that out. The remaining places, of course, would be on the net."

Earlier, while receiving the award, Nair pointed out that India had the world's largest constellation of Remote Sensing Satellites!.

via sify

You might also like...

Game of Chandrayaan
Watch PSLV's record 10 satellite launch
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

Mission Moon is being given the final touches in Bangalore. All payloads and instruments, including five from overseas (from US and Europe) in Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft on India's PSLV are currently being assembled at the ISRO satellite integration centre bangalore, the biggest in Asia.

All satellites and instruments from India or abroad have to be tested followed by assembly and integration onto the spacecraft at this centre.

The instruments will be assembled and finally integrated onto Chandrayaan-1 before launch in a couple of months time. Engineers have already conducted vibration tests, temperature tests at high and low frequencies, tests with thermal sub-systems and all electrical and mechanical functioning.

Read the full story here

You might also like...

Game of Chandrayaan
Watch PSLV's record 10 satellite launch
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

After a long delay i have finally decided to release the chandrayaan game that i am working on as and when i get time. The game is not complete and is in beta stage.


Basically the aim of the game is simple. ISRO is about to launch chandrayaan but they are worried about the space dust and debris out there. So you, the NASA astronaut, come to help. You have 10 seconds to clear those debris before chandrayaan is launched. So get cracking. Move your mouse to navigate the astronaut!!

Good luck and hope you like the small game.




I know the game is not perfect, but since this game is done in my spare time, that is 15 or 20 minutes that i get everyday i hope to see some bugs. Please do send in your suggestions and comments.

You might also like
Watch PSLV's record 10 satellite launch
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

Chandrayaan-1 launch is by the end of this year, but still its rath, the launch vehicle that will be carrying it, is making news.

PSLV has recently made a world record of putting 10 satellites at one go. Watch PSLV's record in this video.



Hope you enjoyed it.

You might also like
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

When i wrote about "What’s the justification in sending unmanned spacecraft on moon by India" Shashank, a reader of this blog has this comment.

"I think that no-one seeing the other side of story. ISRO is sending is doing lunar mission coz it will increase its reputation as a satellite launcher. It will give the probable customer a more RELIABLE feeling that if ISRO can send a satellite to MOON safely then sending a satellite to EARTH'S OUTER ORBIT for ISRO is no BIG DEAL.

So by this mission ISRO is going to earn a lot of buck by SATELLITE LAUNCHING business therefore the amount invested in CHANDRAYAAN mission is not going to be wasted. Plus its a very good MARKETING STUNT to became member of worlds leading SPACE ORGANISATIONS. Now i hope that everyone can understand the logic behind this mission. "

So tell us is Shashank right? What do you think is the logic of doing chandrayaan mission?

Related links
Watch PSLV's record 10 satellite launch
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

I read this blog entry on indian space progress by Hardik Kothare. Re-printing a part of it here.

Finally, the pioneers of Mathematics and Science (the title which has been denied to us by the global community since ages) are now snatching (not demanding) their rightful place on the map of laudable feats achieved in science and technology. ISRO and DRDO have been involved in projects which promise considerable respect and awe towards the two organisations which are always at the helm of technological development in India.
ISRO launched a staggering number of 10 satellites at a time using its indigenous launching system, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)! The project involved nanosatellites from other nations too! Sriharikota, the mecca of Indian Aerospace Engineering exulted with pride as the common man of India also appreciated India's leaps and bounds in space research. ISRO missions are now almost independent of foreign technological help because now we have started constructing our very own cryogenic engines which is a remarkable achievement (apparently our ever-controversial dear Director is an expert in the field!)

Read the full post here

Related links
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

Chandrayaan-1 mission will launch at the end of 3rd quarter of 2008, and during the same time NASA has plans for LRO that is Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter!!!

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is the first mission in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration, a plan to return to the moon and then to travel to Mars and beyond. LRO's objectives are to finding safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology.

Send your names to the moon. Names are being collected and placed onboard the LRO spacecraft for its historic mission bringing NASA back to the moon. You will receive a certificate showcasing your support of the mission.

The deadline is June 27, 2008 for the submission of names.

Send your names to the moon.

This is an animation of chandrayaan-1 rovering on moon with earth in the background, that i have created in javascript which shows chandryann-1 on its mission of mapping the moon.

Do you know what are the Scientific Objectives

The Chandrayaan-1 mission is aimed at high-resolution remote sensing of the moon in visible, near infrared(NIR), low energy X-rays and high-energy X-ray regions. Specifically the objectives will be

To prepare a three-dimensional atlas (with a high spatial and altitude resolution of 5-10m) of both near and far side of the moon.

To conduct chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface for distribution of elements such as Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Calcium, Iron and Titanium with a spatial resolution of about 25 km and high atomic number elements such as Radon, Uranium & Thorium with a spatial resolution of about 20 km.

Learn more here

Related links
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

With ISRO successfully placing 10 satellites into their orbits simultaneously using the PSLV-C9 last week, according to analysts, this has put it several notches ahead of even countries like Russia. Indeed, while speaking to the media after the launch, ISRO's chairman G Madhavan Nair who doubles up as the secretary of the Department of Space (DoS), said as much. This record mission now puts ISRO's commercial arm, the Rs 600-crore Antrix Corporation, in a better position to capture part of the $4bn global satellite launch business since ISRO launch costs are a lot lower than those of its competitors.

Nair, who took over as chairman in September 2003, however, is not sitting on his laurels. In another few months, he plans to kick off the Chandrayaan mission, India's unmanned lunar mission. The idea is to, over a two-year period, survey the moon's surface to provide a complete map of its chemical characteristics.

Read more here

Related links
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

ISRO, indian's space agency is gearing up for the chandrayaan mission to be launched by the end of this year. Mean while why not know about the chandrayaan the craft that will place India into the elite club.

The moon craft is cuboid in shape of approximately 1.50 m side and it weighs 1304 kg at launch and 590 kg at lunar orbit and accommodates eleven science payloads.

Well that is about the size and the capacity of chandrayaan, what about the power unit?

It is 3-axis stabilized spacecraft using two star sensors, gyros and four reaction wheels. The power generation would be through a canted single-sided solar array to provide required power during all phases of the mission. This deployable solar array consisting of a single panel generates 700W of peak power. Solar array along with yoke would be stowed on the south deck of the spacecraft in the launch phase. During eclipse spacecraft will be powered by Lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries.

After deployment the solar panel plane is canted by 30º to the spacecraft pitch axis.

The spacecraft employs a X-band, 0.7m diameter parabolic antenna for payload data transmission. The antenna employs a dual gimbal mechanism to track the earth station when the spacecraft is in lunar orbit.

The spacecraft uses a bipropellant integrated propulsion system to reach lunar orbit as well as orbit and attitude maintenance while orbiting the moon.

The propulsion system carries required propellant for a mission life of 2 years, with adequate margin.

The Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TTC) communication is in S-band frequency.

The scientific payload data transmission is in X-band frequency.

The spacecraft has three Solid State Recorders (SSRs) on board to record data from various payloads.

SSR-1 will store science payload data and has capability of storing 32Gb data.
SSR-2 will store science payload data along with spacecraft attitude information (gyro and star sensor), satellite house keeping and other auxiliary data. The storing capacity of SSR-2 is 8Gb.
M3 (Moon Mineralogy Mapper) payload has an independent SSR with 10Gb capacity.


Related links
Watch the videos of chandrayaan-1
How chandrayaan-1 looks like
Who is actually taking chandrayaan-1 to moon?
From SLV to chandrayaan - follow the story of indian space program

I have been searching the net for some video's of chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to moon, scheduled to launch in 3rd quarter of 2008 and here is the video's i found.


This one is beautiful animation of the ISRO satellite launch






And here is a playlist of Indian space program that i have created




Check this one on you tube. This is really good!

Indian space scientists are aiming to launch their ambitious Moon-mission Chandrayaan-I in the third quarter of this year. It will launch a 500 kg satellite that will orbit Earth's only natural satellite for two years for terrain mapping and lunar surface mapping.

Read more

Watch PSLV, the launch vehicle that will send chandrayaan-1 to moon, make history by launching 10 satelites here

India might launch its Chandrayaan 1 probe in July. While there is no official words out from ISRO, but spaceflight.com presents this view.

Read more on the return to moon report from this link


July PSLV • Chandrayaan 1
Launch time: To be decided
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will send the Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft to the moon. It will be country's first lunar orbiter. The mission carries a slate of instruments provided by scientists from India, Bulgaria, the European Space Agency and NASA. Delayed from April.

use this link to track chandrayaan's launch date http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

India is gearing up for the launch of its maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-I later this year and government is actively considering sending a man into space, Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan said on Wednesday.

Integration of 11 experiments -- five Indian and six foreign -- is proceeding satisfactorily and scientists are looking forward to a launch in the third quarter, he said replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha.

He said serious studies by scientists are going on to explore possibilities of putting a human into space.

Read more at http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804161442.htm