Chandrayaan 3 Science Quiz: Lunar Missions, Space Technology

Explanation: Unlike Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 does not include an orbiter, as the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is still operational and will continue to support the mission.

Explanation: Chandrayaan-3’s instruments are focused on analyzing the lunar regolith, the layer of loose, fragmented material covering the Moon’s surface, to better understand its composition.

Explanation: Chandrayaan-3 communicates with Earth using the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter as a relay, ensuring data transmission back to ISRO.

Explanation: The Moon’s south pole is significant because it is rich in water ice and remains largely unexplored, making it a key area for scientific research and potential future human exploration.

Explanation: The European Space Agency (ESA) provided critical support for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, including tracking and communication assistance.

Explanation: Chandrayaan-3 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the primary launch site for ISRO missions.

Explanation: Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to be launched on 14 July 2023.

Explanation: According to the ISRO Chairman, the names Vikram, for the Lander, and Pragyan for the Rover, will be carried over to honour the Chandrayaan 2 mission.

Explanation: The mission life of the lander, according to ISRO authorities, is one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 days on Earth.

Explanation: The chosen launcher for Chandrayaan-3 is GSLV-Mk3, which will position the integrated module in an Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO) measuring approximately 170 x 36500 km in size.

Explanation: ISRO has set three main objectives for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which include:

1. Getting a lander safe and soft landing on the surface of the Moon.
2. Observing and demonstrating the rover’s loitering capabilities on the Moon
3. In-site scientific observation makes scientific experiments on the chemical and natural elements, soil, water, etc. available on the surface of the Moon to better understand and practice the composition of the Moon. Interplanetary refers to the development and demonstration of new technologies required for missions between two planets.

Explanation: Chandrayaan 3 mission costs lesser than the Chandrayaan 2 mission which was more than 960 crores.

Explanation: The propulsion module, alone, weighs 2,148 kg, and the lander and the rover are both in the lander module, which weighs 1,752 kilograms.

Explanation: The lander for Chandrayaan-3 will have only four throttle-able engines, equipped with a Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV).

Explanation: According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-2, was fitted with the lander Vikram, an orbiter and rover Pragyan, whereas Chandrayaan-3 will carry only a rover and a lander. Also, the orbiter that was launched with Chandrayaan-2 will still be in use.

Explanation: The Propulsion Module is a box-like structure with a huge solar panel on one side and a massive cylinder on top. The cylinder, known as the Intermodule Adapter Cone, will serve as the lander’s mounting framework.

Explanation: Ritu Kharidhal is a prominent scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). She will be leading the launch of Chandrayaan-3 this year.

Explanation: The objective of this mission is to explore the South Pole of the moon. This is because the south pole of the moon is rich in water ice, which is a valuable resource for future lunar exploration. The south pole is also less explored than the north pole, so there is a lot of scientific potential in landing there.

Explanation: The Chandrayaan 3 mission will face a number of challenges, including the harsh lunar surface, the remote landing site, and the difficult communication conditions.

Explanation: The first three countries to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon were the United States, Russia, and China. India became the fourth country to do so on September 7, 2019, when the Chandrayaan 2 lander Vikram successfully touched down on the lunar surface.

Explanation: The Chandrayaan 3 mission will carry a variety of scientific instruments to study the moon. These instruments will be carried by the lander and rover, and they will study the composition and structure of the lunar surface, the composition and dynamics of the lunar atmosphere, and the search for water ice on the moon.

Explanation: Chandrayaan-3, is all set to make a soft and successful landing on the south polar region of the Moon around 6.04 pm today, August 23.

Explanation: ISRO informed that the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, which has been in the lunar orbit, has established a connection with the Chandrayaan-3 lander module Vikram with the rover in its belly.

Explanation: According to the former Chairman of ISRO, K Sivan, the mission has an estimated total cost of around $74 million.

Explanation: Ritu Karidhal is the senior scientist, also known as the ‘Rocket Woman of India’. She successfully led the Chandrayaan-3 mission along with other scientists.

Explanation: The powered descent commenced around 5.45 p.m. and a soft landing took place around 6:04 p.m. IST on August 23, 2023.

Explanation: PM Modi while addressing ISRO scientists announced the commemoration of Chandrayaan 3 as National Space Day on August 23.

Explanation: PM Narendra Modi announced that the point where the Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down on the lunar surface on Wednesday will be named Shiv Shakti.

Explanation: Jawahar Point or Jawahar Sthal is a region near the Shackleton Crater given to the landing site of Chandrayaan-1. It was suggested by A.P.J Abdul Kalam.

Explanation: ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) measures the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole, to understand the thermal behaviour of the moon’s surface.

Explanation: Vyommitra is a female-looking spacefaring humanoid robot being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Explanation: According to Space.com one instrument aboard the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s moon rover Pragyan has found surprising traces of sulfur within the lunar south pole’s soil.

Explanation: First in-situ measurements of the surface-bound Lunar plasma environment over the south polar region have been carried out by the Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) payload onboard Chandrayaan-3 Lander.