Chandrayaan-1 or Europe’s Next Moon Ride
The first Indian scientific mission to leave earth’s vicinity is in its final phases of preparation, the first collaborative space mission with the Indian Space Research Organization (SRO). Chandrayaan-1 will study the moon in great detail, with the moon’s many mysteries having intrigued planetary scientists for years. Chandrayaan-1 will orbit the moon at a circular path, just 100 km above the lunar surface.
“Journey to the Moon” is Chandrayaan in Hindu. It will study the moon at many wavelengths from x-rays, visible, and near infrared to microwaves during its mission. “The low orbit will give us really high resolution data”, says Detlef Koschny, ESA Chandrayaan Project Scientist. Presently, the maps that the planetary scientists have show details of some 30-100m across with the principal objection is to map the surface of the moon in unprecedented detail. To do so, the Chandrayaan will produce maps with a resolution of between 5 and 10m across the whole surface of the moon. “We aim to have this in two years”, says Koschny. Utilizing experience from SMART-1, Europe’s first mission to the moon was launched in September of 2003 and three years later its work was finished.
ESA is coordinating the provision of three European instruments as well as assisting ISRO with operations, data handling and flight dynamics. High quality, low-energy or soft, ray spectroscopic mapping of the moon will be carried out by the Compact Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (CIXS). Known as SIR-2, the Infrared Spectrometer will observe the chemical composition of the moon’s crust and mantle
Both of these instruments were flown on SMART-1 and have been up-graded and rebuilt for Chandrayaan-1. Work, started by the original instruments, will continue on the surface composition. The third European contribution is the Sub-Kev Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA). Derived from the ASPERA (energetic neutral atoms analyzer) instruments, flown on Mars Express and Venus Express, it will be the first lunar experiment dedicated to direct studies of the interaction between electrically charged particles and the surface of the moon.
The moon’s surface is constantly bombarded by the wind of particles released by the sun because of the lack of atmosphere. These interactions will be monitored by SARA and will use them to image the composition of the moon’s surface, study the surface magnetic anomalies and study the gases released from the lunar surface by the collision of the solar particles.
All European instruments will be delivered to ISRO as soon as they are completed. The low orbit means that these instruments, all of which relay on collecting the energy on particles emitted by the lunar surface will work better. “Being closer to the surface mans that the signal received from the surface will be stronger. This is good for global mapping”, said Christian ESA Chandrayaan Project Manager. Chandrayaan will be carried into space by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and placed on a 5½ day cruise to the moon. It will be a stepping stone to future missions to other bodies, including the moon.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm and is filed under Space Agency News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
