Chandrayaan-3 is the proposed third mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan lunar exploration program. The Chandrayaan program aims to explore the Moon and expand our understanding of its geology, surface composition, and the presence of water ice.
Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, which consisted of an orbiter, lander, and rover. Unfortunately, the lander (Vikram) of Chandrayaan-2 did not successfully land on the lunar surface as planned in September 2019. However, the orbiter component of Chandrayaan-2 continues to operate and provide valuable scientific data.
The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to achieve a soft landing on the Moon's surface, specifically targeting the south polar region. This region is of particular interest due to the presence of permanently shadowed craters, which could potentially contain water ice. By exploring these areas, Chandrayaan-3 aims to gather scientific data to enhance our understanding of the Moon's composition and history.
