India's Moon Exploration Program

[Indx TechStyle]

Hope, they are having more focus on the Lander than the rover. It is the lander which is most difficult part of the project.

Well, that's "common sense".
Entire mission is supposedly being planned to achieve soft "landing" capability.

 

[SKC]

Well, that's "common sense".
Entire mission is supposedly being planned to achieve soft "landing" capability.

That was planned in CY-2 also but did not go as planned. We need to focus more on lander than making so many changes in the rover.

 

[DumbPilot]

That was planned in CY-2 also but did not go as planned. We need to focus more on lander than making so many changes in the rover.

Was there ever an investigation report released about CY-2? I always guessed(with no concrete evidence, of course) that it was a memory overflow or something that caused the computer go haywire.

Similar to what happened on Ariane 5's first flight.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

That was planned in CY-2 also but did not go as planned. We need to focus more on lander than making so many changes in the rover.

Lander's retro thruster mechanism has been changed. Modifications in rover equipment is a part of research program, it's not bad to have better equipment onboard when you don't have to bear the load of orbiter this time. There is no point in launching same thing to space twice unless you are in a race.

 

[SKC]

Was there ever an investigation report released about CY-2? I always guessed(with no concrete evidence, of course) that it was a memory overflow or something that caused the computer go haywire.

Similar to what happened on Ariane 5's first flight.

ISRO went full mum over the failure. Many Space enthusiast including Scott Manley heavily criticized ISRO in this secrecy.

 

[DumbPilot]

ISRO went full mum over the failure. Many Space enthusiast including Scott Manley heavily criticized ISRO in this secrecy.

CY-2's landing was the only time in life I was awake until 2AM lmao, sucked that nobody even got an explanation for it.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

'Satellite fully integrated,' says Isro chief on Chandrayaan-3 launch this year
Isro will aim to land the mission successfully this time, learning from the experiences of the Chandrayaan-2 mission.https://defenceforumindia.com/whatsapp://send?text='Satellite fully integrated,' says Isro chief on Chandrayaan-3 launch this year https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/satellite-fully-integrated-says-isro-chief-on-chandrayaan-3-launch-this-year-2317716-2023-01-05?utm_source=washare&utm_medium=socialicons&utm_campaign=shareurltracking

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is likely to be launched in June this year. (Photo: Isro)
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In Short

• The Chandrayaan-3 mission is likely to be launched in June
• Engineering on the spacecraft is significantly different
• S Somnath confirmed that the necessary tests ahead of launch have been done

By India Today Web Desk: Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chief S Somnath has said that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is ready and in the final phase of preparation. Speaking at the 108th Indian Science Congress, Somnath said that the satellite is fully integrated indicating the readiness of the space agency to launch the third mission part of the Chandrayaan series.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is likely to be launched in June this year as the successor to the Chandrayan-2 mission, which crash-landed on the Moon. The mission has been delayed for several years, initially due to the coronavirus-induced lockdowns and then for key tests.

Isro will aim to land the mission successfully this time, learning from the experiences of the Chandrayaan-2 mission that was sent to the Moon in 2018. Chandrayaan-3 is being developed to have different methods to calculate the height to be traveled, identify hazard-free locations, and will have better software. Chandrayaan-3 is critical for Isro as it will demonstrate India's capabilities to make landings for further interplanetary missions.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission. (Photo: Screengrab/Isro)

While the Chandrayaan-2's lander, rover combination failed, the orbiter is still hovering above the surface of the Moon, conducting major science operations, and will be used by Chandrayaan-3.

“We lost the Lander last time. So, the Rover also could not come out of it to do all the experiments aboard — put probes into the soil and collect all sorts of data. This time, the main target is to do that final task successfully — make a safe landing on the moon so the rest of the process can proceed as planned," the Isro chief said.

Isro chief had earlier said that the engineering on the spacecraft is significantly different and that they have made it more robust so that it does not have problems like last time. Somnath confirmed that the necessary tests ahead of launch have been done and, "We just need to select the best days, depending on the capability of the rocket."

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Isro human space foray set for next step
On the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Somnath said that ISRO was looking at a launch window around June-July this year

Credit: Special arrangement

In another four months, India would take its first step to send a human to space with ISRO launching its maiden crew module abort mission by April-May followed by a second such mission after three months and an unmanned mission by 2023 end, clearing the decks for the much awaited 2024 voyage to send an Indian to space.

The next year would see two more abort missions – four such missions are planned to ensure complete crew safety, which is central to the ambitious plan – and a second unmanned mission before a crew of one or two Indian Air Force officers would take a flight to space in an indigenous spacecraft four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in a Russian craft.

"The first abort mission (TV-D1) would be happening around April-May followed by another such mission (TV-D2) three months later. There will be an unmanned mission by the end of the year. Next year, there will be two more abort missions and a second unmanned mission before human space flight,” S Somnath, chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation said at a press conference on the sidelines of the 108th session of the Indian Science Congress.

“It is not like sending a satellite to orbit. We cannot take chances when it comes to human beings. We are being cautious and careful. Globally it took about 10 years for countries to develop human space flight capability, which we are doing in four years.”

The ISRO chairman flagged the lack of industrial ecosystem for the space sector as one of the key reasons behind the delays in realising the manned flight mission.

For instance, the space agency needed crucial environmental control and life support systems for the crew module but could not import them because the imported systems were coming with exorbitant price tags and there were no Indian versions available. The ISRO scientists have to develop the systems in-house.

On the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Somnath said that ISRO was looking at a launch window around June-July this year. “All the tests to ruggedise the payload have been completed. The satellite is fully integrated. The orbiter, lander and rover are ready and we are looking at the right slot for the launch by GSLV-MK-III. The next best days are coming in June-July,” he said.

The ISRO chairman said the second development flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will happen next month. The SSLV flight would be used to test a space-based aircraft monitoring system.

"The ADS-B receiver gets all the details of an aircraft. Currently, the Air Traffic Controller gets these signals, but there are certain blind spots -- about 30% of airspace across the globe -- to which ATC doesn't have access. Now, we have developed a space-based ADS-B technology that would be tested on the SSLV flight," said D K Singh, Deputy Director, Advanced Technology Area, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad.

The first flight of SSLV in August 2022 was unsuccessful. Once the SSLV is realised, India would be in a position to launch satellites weighing up to 500 kg to low earth orbits within weeks.

Singh said ISRO was also working on a special high-throughput satellite that would expose Indians to the in-flight browsing experience, but it would take another year before the satellite would be ready for launch.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Isro human space foray set for next step
On the Chandrayaan-3 mission, Somnath said that ISRO was looking at a launch window around June-July this year

Credit: Special arrangement

Takeaways:

1. First abort test in April-May and second in September-October before G1 mission by year end. Same pattern of two abort tests before G2 mission next year.
2. Crew for Gaganyaan are essentially Indian Air Personnel, confirms officially.
3. Chandryaan-3 all ready for launch. Launch window falls in June-July and a delay is unlikely unless launcher assembly takes time.
4. SSLV this February.
5. Will carry a payload ADS-B to collect aircraft details from 30% of global airspace which is not covered by ATC

Copy pasting messages on relevant threads.

 

[Vamsi]

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Varoon2
CY-3 delayed again....this time to end 2023/Early 2024, but I'm expecting early 2024....

The reason for delay might be unavailability of LVM3 because of Oneweb

If CY-3 itself is delayed to end 2023/early 2024, the. Gaganyaan-1 itself will be delayed to Mid2024-late 2024 at the earliest, if not early 2025


Man, they must announce the launch date only if the rocket is on Launch Pad, it's really frustrating to hear continuous delays

There is not even one time, they launched anything on schedule other than Mangalyaan.....it's really frustrating guys

 

[AnantS]

Irs obvious most energies are being spent on manned mission. Just hope they dont cut corners in testing to meet political deadline.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Varoon2
CY-3 delayed again....this time to end 2023/Early 2024, but I'm expecting early 2024....

The reason for delay might be unavailability of LVM3 because of Oneweb

If CY-3 itself is delayed to end 2023/early 2024, the. Gaganyaan-1 itself will be delayed to Mid2024-late 2024 at the earliest, if not early 2025


Man, they must announce the launch date only if the rocket is on Launch Pad, it's really frustrating to hear continuous delays

There is not even one time, they launched anything on schedule other than Mangalyaan.....it's really frustrating guys

I told ya.
They needed to produce 6 LVM3 rockets in 2 years. Current capacity is barely 2 in one year.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Irs obvious most energies are being spent on manned mission. Just hope they dont cut corners in testing to meet political deadline.

Chandrayaan-3 is more political than Gaganyaan in that regard. Manned spaceflight is an essential part of long term plan for space station, all missions to Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Sun and asteroids are just a matter of symbolism for now.

 

[afako]

@Indx TechStyle @Swesh @Varoon2
CY-3 delayed again....this time to end 2023/Early 2024, but I'm expecting early 2024....

The reason for delay might be unavailability of LVM3 because of Oneweb

If CY-3 itself is delayed to end 2023/early 2024, the. Gaganyaan-1 itself will be delayed to Mid2024-late 2024 at the earliest, if not early 2025


Man, they must announce the launch date only if the rocket is on Launch Pad, it's really frustrating to hear continuous delays

There is not even one time, they launched anything on schedule other than Mangalyaan.....it's really frustrating guys

ISRO has this launch date announce and 100% missing the deadline syndrome from last 12 years I have been tracking them. I have no hopes now.

 

[Vamsi]

ISRO has this launch date announce and 100% missing the deadline syndrome from last 12 years I have been tracking them. I have no hopes now.

I don't know whether they missed deadlines for CY-1, but

Afaik other than Mangalyaan, they missed almost every deadline

 

[Vamsi]

I told ya.
They needed to produce 6 LVM3 rockets in 2 years. Current capacity is barely 2 in one year.

if CY-3 is delayed to late 2023/early 2024, then Gaganyaan-1 too will be delayed to Late 2024/early 2025

 

[afako]

I don't know whether they missed deadlines for CY-1, but

Afaik other than Mangalyaan, they missed almost every deadline

The old guard at ISRO might excel in engineering background but project management has not been the Forte. Discounting for political interference if any, non release of timely funds from Govt, I can't understand where's the challenge? The graph is going down or is flat.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

The graph is going down or is flat

Expectations of growth are higher than possible.

Doing same thing with no new resources and expecting different results is foolish.

 

[Varoon2]

Very disheartening news about Chandrayaan-3. And it's not even a month or two delay, but 5-6 months! Incredible. What launches are 100 percent guaranteed this calendar year? Sslv-D2, Gslv Mk 3 with One Web is all that can be said for certain. Aditya-1 and Irnss 1J with Gslv Mk 2 as of now fall into the ' believe it when we see it" category.

 

[Varoon2]

Since Chandrayaan-3 is not going to have an orbiter, only an orbital module, wouldn't the mass/ weight reduction, be sufficient for Gslv Mk 2 to carry the entire payload? They would need another Gslv Mk 2 ready, though, apart from what is going to be used to lift the new Irnss satellite. Just thinking out loud!