What happened to Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions? ISRO’s Lunar Secrets
Chandrayaan-2 mission was missed, but it still has a big achievement
You and I are eagerly awaiting Chandrayaan-3’s lunar landing. Recently, there was news of Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter being in contact with Chandrayaan-3. But have you ever wondered what happened to Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2?
Reminiscing Luna-25 and Chandrayaan-2
The recent Luna-25 crash in Russia reminded us of India’s Chandrayaan-2. As somber as the news of Chandrayaan-2’s crash was, we find solace in the fact that Chandrayaan-3 is proceeding according to plan so far — with only the landing remaining. However, let’s delve into Chandrayaan-1
What happened to Chandrayaan-1?
Launched on October 22, 2008, Chandrayaan-1 embarked on its journey to the moon, bearing the dreams of India and ISRO. It was an orbital mission, solely responsible for orbiting the moon. This mission is hailed as one of the most successful lunar missions, as it marked the first discovery of water on the moon. The 11 instruments involved in this mission were developed across India, America, Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Bulgaria.
Chandrayaan-1 revealed the presence of water molecules — water — on the lunar surface. This groundbreaking discovery has further heightened the prospects of potential future life on the moon. Consequently, India initiated preparations for Chandrayaan-2, a rover mission aimed at exploring the lunar landscape. This mission yielded numerous high-resolution images of the moon for ISRO.
Chandrayaan-2: Setbacks and Scientific Discoveries
Approximately 11 years after the launch of Chandrayaan-1, India introduced Chandrayaan-2.
What happened to Chandrayaan-2?
Much like Chandrayaan-3, Chandrayaan-2 was a rover mission, featuring a robotic vehicle designed for lunar surface exploration. Launched in August 2019, this mission was scheduled to touch down on the moon’s surface on September 6, 2019. Regrettably, its Vikram Lander experienced a crash during landing. Alongside the rover, an orbiter was also part of this mission, which recently established communication with Chandrayaan-3.
ISRO accomplished several significant achievements through this mission. Chandrayaan-2 detected the presence of sodium on the moon. The X-ray spectrometer aboard Chandrayaan-2 identified two types of sodium: one on the surface and the other integrated with the minerals present there. This revelation has facilitated a deeper understanding of the lunar surface.
Anticipating Chandrayaan-3’s Historic Landing
At present, Chandrayaan-3 is on the verge of landing. Not just India, but many nations worldwide are closely monitoring this impending landing. The lander of Chandrayaan-3 is set to touch down on the moon’s south pole — a location that neither a rover nor a human has yet reached. Following Russia’s Luna-25 crash, all attention is currently directed toward Chandrayaan-3.
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