Katerina Swanson
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched on July 14, 2023, is a significant step forward in the country's space exploration endeavours. The mission, with a budget of around $75 million, involved sending a spacecraft to the moon, with the primary objective of studying the lunar surface and gathering valuable data. One of the key aspects of the mission's success is the availability of sufficient fuel to power the spacecraft through its journey and enable it to accomplish its scientific goals. The propulsion module's fuel levels have been a particular focus, with updates on the remaining fuel providing insights into the mission's longevity and potential for extended operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft weight | 3,897.89 kg |
| Chandrayaan-3 launch date | 14 July 2023 |
| Chandrayaan-3 launch location | Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Chandrayaan-3 landing date | 23 August 2023 |
| Chandrayaan-3 landing location | South Pole region of the Moon |
| Chandrayaan-3 landing time | 6:04 PM |
| Chandrayaan-3 mission cost | Rs 615 crore or $75 million |
| Chandrayaan-3 fuel type | Solid fuel, liquid fuel, liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen |
| Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module fuel capacity | 1,696.4 kg or 1,697 kg |
| Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module remaining fuel | 150 kg or more |
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What You'll Learn
- Chandrayaan-3's propulsion module had 1,696.4 kg of fuel at launch
- The module's lifespan is now years, not three-six months
- The module has over 150 kg of fuel remaining
- The LVM3 Rocket was Chandrayaan-3's largest, heaviest rocket
- The rocket's first stage is solid fuel, the second liquid, and the third cryogenic
Chandrayaan-3's propulsion module had 1,696.4 kg of fuel at launch
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is India's latest lunar mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on July 14, 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023, and successfully landed on the Moon on August 23, 2023.
The Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module had 1,696.4 kg of fuel at launch. This module was responsible for five Earth-bound manoeuvres and five lunar-bound manoeuvres before separating from the landing module between July 15 and August 17. The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, for comparison, carried 1,697 kg of propellant, expending more than 657 kg of fuel during its five Earth-bound manoeuvres and trans-lunar injection.
The Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module was expected to last for three to six months, but due to the efficient use of fuel, it exceeded expectations. By August 20, 2023, the propulsion module still had 150 kg of fuel remaining, ensuring an extended lifespan of several years. This excess fuel allows the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) instrument to continue studying Earth.
The LVM3 Rocket, also known as India's Bahubali heavy-lift rocket, is the largest and heaviest rocket in the LVM3 category. It comprises three main modules: propulsion, lander, and rover. The first stage of the rocket is powered by solid fuel, the second stage by liquid fuel, and the third and final stage by a cryogenic engine using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Cryogenic engines offer higher efficiency and increased payload capacity, making them ideal for the final stages of the launch mission.
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The module's lifespan is now years, not three-six months
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module has more than 150 kg of fuel left. This is a much larger amount than expected, as ISRO chairman S Somanath commented: "It has too much fuel, way beyond our expectations. There's a lot of fuel left as everything was very nominal on the way to the Moon and there were no contingencies requiring corrections (for which fuel would have been expended). We're left with almost all the margin, that's around 150+kg."
The propulsion module was loaded with 1,696.4 kg of fuel at the time of launch on July 14, 2023. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, launched by the LVM3 Rocket, had a total weight of 3,897.89 kg. The LVM3 is the largest and heaviest rocket, comprising three modules: propulsion, lander, and rover. The first stage of the rocket was powered by solid fuel, the second by liquid fuel, and the third and final stage by a cryogenic engine, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
The initial expectation was that the propulsion module would last for three to six months. However, with the amount of fuel remaining, the module's lifespan has been extended to several years. This is a significant development, as it allows the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) instrument to continue studying Earth.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has been a landmark achievement for ISRO and India's space programme. The landing of the Vikram lander on the Moon on August 23, 2023, was declared National Space Day by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The touchdown point of the Vikram lander was named Statio Shiv Shakti, and the event was witnessed by eight million concurrent viewers on ISRO's official YouTube channel, setting a new record.
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The module has over 150 kg of fuel remaining
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has been a success for India's space exploration programme. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that the propulsion module of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has over 150 kg of fuel remaining. This is a significant amount, far beyond the scientists' initial expectations. The module was loaded with 1,696.4 kg of fuel at the time of its launch on 14 July 2023, and it was expected to last for three to six months. With the current fuel levels, the module could remain operational for much longer, possibly several years. This extended lifespan will allow the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) instrument more time to study the Earth.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was launched aboard an LVM3-M4 rocket, also known as 'Bahubali', from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The LVM3 rocket is the largest and heaviest rocket launched by ISRO, comprising three modules: propulsion, lander, and rover. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 5 August 2023 and successfully landed on the Moon on 23 August 2023 at around 6:04 pm. The landing was streamed live on ISRO's official YouTube channel, attracting eight million concurrent viewers, the highest in YouTube's history for a live video.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant milestone in India's space exploration efforts. The spacecraft's extended lifespan due to the remaining fuel in the propulsion module will provide valuable opportunities for further scientific research and advancements in space technology. The additional time in orbit will enable the collection of more data and the refinement of strategies for future lunar missions, including sample return missions and gravity-assisted flyby missions.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 has important implications for future space endeavours. The extended mission duration allows for more comprehensive data collection and analysis, contributing to a better understanding of the Moon and space exploration in general. The efficient utilisation of fuel has played a crucial role in the mission's success, enabling the precise manoeuvring of the spacecraft and ensuring the optimal use of resources. The lessons learned from Chandrayaan-3 will undoubtedly influence the design and execution of future missions, both in terms of fuel management and overall mission planning.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has also fostered international collaboration in space exploration. The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA have provided support for the mission through their respective tracking networks, ESTRACK and Deep Space Network. In return, ISRO has agreed to provide similar support for future ESA missions. This cross-agency cooperation demonstrates the global nature of space exploration and the shared goal of advancing our understanding of the universe. The knowledge gained from Chandrayaan-3 and future joint endeavours will undoubtedly benefit the global space community.
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The LVM3 Rocket was Chandrayaan-3's largest, heaviest rocket
The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023, and successfully landed on the Moon on August 23, 2023, at 6:04 p.m. local time.
The LVM3 Rocket, also known as the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, was the largest and heaviest rocket in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. It comprised three modules: propulsion, lander, and rover. The rocket was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and had a total mass of 3,897.89 kg.
The first stage of the LVM3 was powered by solid fuel, while the second stage used liquid fuel. The third and final stage featured a cryogenic engine powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The LVM3 had a higher payload capacity than its predecessor, the GSLV, and was designed for communication satellite launches into geostationary orbit. The rocket also has potential applications in human spaceflight under the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
The LVM3's payload fairing was modified to an ogive shape, improving the rocket's aerodynamic performance. The vehicle has a large fairing with a five-metre diameter, providing ample space for large satellites and spacecraft. The LVM3's first stage consists of two S200 solid motors, or Large Solid Boosters (LSB), each carrying a significant amount of HTPB-based propellant.
The Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module was loaded with 1,696.4 kg of fuel at launch and was expected to have a lifespan of three to six months. However, due to the efficient use of fuel during the mission, the module still had over 150 kg of fuel remaining, extending its lifespan to several years. This additional fuel allows the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) instrument to continue studying Earth.
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The rocket's first stage is solid fuel, the second liquid, and the third cryogenic
The LVM3 Rocket, launched as part of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, is India's Bahubali heavy-lift rocket. It is the largest and heaviest LVM3 rocket, comprising three modules: propulsion, lander, and rover. The first stage of the rocket is powered by solid fuel, the second stage by liquid fuel, and the third and final stage by a cryogenic engine. Cryogenic propellants are liquefied gases stored at very low temperatures, most frequently liquid hydrogen (LH2) as the fuel and liquid oxygen (LO2 or LOX) as the oxidizer. Hydrogen remains liquid at temperatures of -253 °C (-423 °F), while oxygen remains in a liquid state at temperatures of -183 °C (-297 °F).
Liquid hydrogen delivers a specific impulse about 30%-40% higher than most other rocket fuels. Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen are used as the propellant in the high-efficiency main engines of the Space Shuttle. LOX/LH2 also powered the upper stages of the Saturn V and Saturn 1B rockets. Another cryogenic fuel with desirable properties for space propulsion systems is liquid methane (-162 °C). When burned with liquid oxygen, methane performs better than state-of-the-art storable propellants.
The Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module was loaded with 1,696.4 kg of fuel at the time of launch. More than 150 kg of fuel was left in the module, exceeding initial expectations of a three-to-six-month lifespan. This excess fuel allows the module to remain operational for many years, providing more time for the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) instrument to study Earth.
The LVM3 Rocket successfully launched a 3,897.89 kg Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft from the Sriharikota space station in Andhra Pradesh, India, on July 14, 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on August 5, 2023, and was scheduled to land on August 23, 2023, at around 6:04 PM.
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Frequently asked questions
Chandrayaan 3 had 1,696.4 kg of fuel at the time of its launch on July 14, 2023.
Chandrayaan 3 had more than 150 kg of fuel left in its propulsion module, exceeding initial expectations of a three-to-six-month lifespan.
The LVM3 Rocket used for the Chandrayaan 3 mission employed a combination of solid fuel, liquid fuel, and a cryogenic engine powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
With over 150 kg of fuel remaining, the Chandrayaan 3 propulsion module was expected to have an extended lifespan of several years, surpassing the initial estimate of three to six months.
