Chandrayaan-3 Mission Overview
The Chandrayaan-3 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made significant strides in lunar exploration. The mission’s Pragyan rover, commanded by the Vikram lander, has provided valuable insights from the lunar surface, particularly near its southern high-latitude landing site.
Significant Encounter
The Pragyan rover, while traversing the lunar surface, encountered small rock fragments distributed around the rim, wall slopes, and floor of small craters. This discovery was made near the Shiv Shakti point, the designated landing zone of Chandrayaan-3. The rover covered approximately 103 meters during a single lunar day.
Findings and Implications
The Pragyan rover’s findings are significant as they support previous studies indicating the gradual coarsening of rock fragments within the lunar regolith. As the rover navigated around 39 meters west of the landing site, it observed an increase in the number and size of rock fragments. A 10-meter diameter crater is believed to be the source of these fragments, having excavated and redistributed them across the landing site.
Two of the encountered rock fragments showed signs of degradation, suggesting exposure to space weathering. These findings contribute to our understanding of the lunar surface’s geological processes, particularly the regolith overturning mechanism.
Technological Achievements
The Pragyan rover, weighing 27 kilograms, was equipped with cameras and instruments to analyze lunar soil. It proudly displayed the ISRO logo and the Indian tricolor on the lunar surface, symbolizing India’s achievements in space exploration.
Future Prospects
Building on the success of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO Chief S. Somanath revealed plans for Chandrayaan-4. The next mission aims to bring back a lunar sample from the ‘Shiv Shakti’ point, further advancing India’s contributions to lunar science.
Historical Achievement
Chandrayaan-3 made history on August 23, 2023, when it successfully landed near the lunar south pole, making India the first country to achieve this feat. It also marked India as the fourth country in the world to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface, following the United States, the former Soviet Union, and China.
Mission Success
ISRO officials confirmed that all objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission were met. These included demonstrating a safe and soft landing, enabling the rover to traverse the lunar surface, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments using the rover’s and lander’s payloads.
Chandrayaan-3’s findings and achievements not only enhance our understanding of the moon but also showcase India’s growing capabilities in space exploration.
1.What significant mission did ISRO undertake for lunar exploration?
A. Chandrayaan-1
B. Chandrayaan-2
C. Chandrayaan-3
D. Mangalyaan
Answer: C. Chandrayaan-3
2.What is the name of the rover used in the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
A. Vikram
B. Pragyan
C. Yutu
D. Curiosity
Answer: B. Pragyan
3.What is the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 called?
A. Sea of Tranquility
B. Mare Imbrium
C. Shiv Shakti point
D. Von Kármán crater
Answer: C. Shiv Shakti point
4.How many meters did the Pragyan rover cover during a single lunar day?
A. 50 meters
B. 75 meters
C. 103 meters
D. 150 meters
Answer: C. 103 meters
5.What did the Pragyan rover encounter while traversing the lunar surface?
A. Ice deposits
B. Small rock fragments
C. Alien artifacts
D. Volcanoes
Answer: B. Small rock fragments
6.How far west of the landing site did the rover observe an increase in rock fragments?
A. 20 meters
B. 30 meters
C. 39 meters
D. 50 meters
Answer: C. 39 meters
7.What is believed to be the source of the rock fragments observed by the Pragyan rover?
A. Meteor impacts
B. Volcanic activity
C. A 10-meter diameter crater
D. Lunar tectonics
Answer: C. A 10-meter diameter crater
8.What signs did two of the encountered rock fragments show?
A. Erosion by wind
B. Signs of degradation
C. Fossils
D. Ice deposits
Answer: B. Signs of degradation
9.What mechanism do the findings of the Pragyan rover contribute to understanding?
A. Lunar tectonics
B. Regolith overturning mechanism
C. Volcanic activity
D. Water cycle on the moon
Answer: B. Regolith overturning mechanism
10.How much does the Pragyan rover weigh?
A. 25 kilograms
B. 27 kilograms
C. 30 kilograms
D. 35 kilograms
Answer: B. 27 kilograms
11.What did the Pragyan rover proudly display on the lunar surface?
A. NASA logo
B. ISRO logo and the Indian tricolor
C. UN flag
D. Chinese flag
Answer: B. ISRO logo and the Indian tricolor
12.What future mission did ISRO Chief S. Somanath reveal plans for?
A. Chandrayaan-4
B. Mangalyaan-2
C. Gaganyaan
D. Aditya-L1
Answer: A. Chandrayaan-4
13.What was Chandrayaan-3’s historic achievement on August 23, 2023?
A. First manned mission to the moon
B. First soft landing on the lunar south pole
C. First Indian satellite
D. Discovery of water on the moon
Answer: B. First soft landing on the lunar south pole
14.Which countries had achieved a soft landing on the lunar surface before India?
A. United States, Soviet Union, China
B. United States, Japan, China
C. United States, Europe, Japan
D. Soviet Union, Europe, China
Answer: A. United States, Soviet Union, China
15.What were the objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
A. Explore Mars’ atmosphere
B. Demonstrate safe landing and conduct in-situ experiments
C. Test space station modules
D. Launch communication satellites
Answer: B. Demonstrate safe landing and conduct in-situ experiments
16.What does the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission showcase about India?
A. Its natural resources
B. Its growing capabilities in space exploration
C. Its cultural heritage
D. Its political stability
Answer: B. Its growing capabilities in space exploration
17.What is the estimated diameter of the crater thought to be the source of rock fragments?
A. 5 meters
B. 10 meters
C. 15 meters
D. 20 meters
Answer: B. 10 meters
18.What is the role of the Vikram lander in the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
A. Orbit the moon
B. Command the Pragyan rover
C. Relay communications
D. Collect samples
Answer: B. Command the Pragyan rover
19.What date did Chandrayaan-3 successfully land near the lunar south pole?
A. July 23, 2023
B. August 23, 2023
C. September 23, 2023
D. October 23, 2023
Answer: B. August 23, 2023
20.What does the Pragyan rover’s analysis primarily contribute to?
A. Understanding of lunar atmosphere
B. Understanding of lunar surface geological processes
C. Mapping of lunar water resources
D. Studying the moon’s core
Answer: B. Understanding of lunar surface geological processes
