Delhi, 18th July 2023: On July 14 at 2:35 pm, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3, its third lunar exploration mission. The launch took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, employing the powerful LVM-3 heavy-lift launch vehicle and aiming to explore the lunar surface using a rover.
The objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are vast and encompass various aspects of lunar exploration. The mission aims to study the moon’s thermophysical properties, seismic activity, lunar soil, surface plasma environment, elemental composition, and other relevant characteristics. To ensure the success of the mission, ISRO collaborated with several manufacturing companies to construct the rover, lander, and launch vehicles.
This ambitious lunar exploration venture comes at a time of predicted growth in the Global Space Exploration market. The market is projected to rise from $486 billion in 2022 to a staggering $1879 billion in 2023, with an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.21%. India is expected to play a significant role in this expansion. If Chandrayaan-3 proves successful, India will join the ranks of the US, China, and Russia as the fourth country to achieve lunar exploration.
The LVM-3 launch vehicle, comprising the propulsion system, lander, and rover, was developed through collaborations with prominent companies. Larsen & Toubro Ltd. contributed to the space hardware and system integration of the launch vehicle, providing umbilical plates and booster segments. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) supplied batteries for the mission, building upon their experience of furnishing 100 batteries for previous space endeavors.
Walchandnagar Industries, a long-standing supporter of ISRO missions, played a crucial role by contributing various components for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, as they have done for all 48 ISRO launches since 1993. Hindustan Aeronautics also made significant contributions by providing essential components to the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) for the mission.
Centum Electronics has been an essential partner, producing hundreds of components for Indian space missions and contributing key components to Chandrayaan-3. Additionally, Hyderabad-based MTAR Technologies, along with Bengaluru-based HAL and Godrej, collaborated with ISRO in building the engine and stage for the LVM-3 launch.
The successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 marks another significant milestone for India’s space exploration endeavors. With its multifaceted objectives and collaborative efforts, the mission paves the way for further advancements in lunar exploration and reinforces India’s position in the global space exploration landscape.
