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Chandrayaan
Chandrayaan-1, (Sanskrit: चंद्रयान-१, lit: Moon-vehicle[2][3] pronunciation (help·info)) is India's first mission to the moon launched by India's national space agency the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The unmanned lunar exploration mission includes a lunar orbiter and an impactor. India launched the spacecraft by a modified version of the PSLV C11[1][4] on 22 October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh about 80 km north of Chennai at 06:22 IST (00:52 UTC).[5]The mission is a major boost to India's space program, as India joins Asian nations China and Japan in exploring the Moon.[6] The vehicle was successfully inserted into lunar orbit on 8 November 2008.[7]
On November 14, 2008, the Moon Impact Probe separated from the moon-orbiting Chandrayaan at 20:06 and impacted the lunar south pole in a controlled manner, making India the fourth country to place its flag on the Moon.[8] The MIP impacted Shackleton Crater, of the lunar south pole, at 20:31 on 14 November 2008 releasing subsurface debris that could be analysed for presence of water ice.[9]
The estimated cost for the project is Rs. 386 crore (US$ 80 million).[10]
The remote sensing lunar satellite had a weight of 1,380 kilograms (3,042 lb) at launch and 675 kilograms (1,488 lb) in lunar orbit [11] and carries high resolution remote sensing equipment for visible, near infrared, and soft and hard X-ray frequencies. Over a two-year period, it is intended to survey the lunar surface to produce a complete map of its chemical characteristics and 3-dimensional topography. The polar regions are of special interest, as they might contain ice.[12] The lunar mission carries five ISRO payloads and six payloads from other international space agencies including NASA, ESA, and the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, which were carried free of cost.[13]
[edit] Objectives
The stated scientific objectives of the...