GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Science and Technology: Space
Context: The article is in continuation of yesterday’s post on the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.
Significance of Chandrayaan-3 for India:
| Aspects | Significance of Chandrayaan-3 |
| Planetary Exploration | Establishes India’s credentials as a serious player in planetary exploration |
| Space policies | Grants India the ability to contribute to and influence future space policies |
| Diplomatic Outreach | Enhances India’s diplomatic relations and support in the international community |
| Technological Advancement | Demonstrates India’s advanced space technology capabilities |
| National Influence | Elevates India’s position in global space discussions and collaborations |
| Future Collaborations | Paves the way for partnerships with other space agencies and nations |
| Confidence and Capability | Boosts India’s confidence to undertake complex space missions |
| Transition | Reflects India’s progress from a developing country to a developed one |
Other upcoming Planetary missions of ISRO:
- Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX): Aims to explore the Moon’s polar regions and shaded areas; Investigate water distribution and study lunar surface conditions.
- XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite): India’s first polarimetry mission; Studies dynamics of astronomical X-ray sources.
- Aditya-L1: India’s first space-based solar observatory; Studies the Sun, including solar corona, emissions, winds, and flares.
- NISAR (NASA ISRO SAR Mission): Joint mission by NASA and ISRO; Utilizes synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to map the entire globe in 12 days.
About LUPEX Mission:
| Aspect | Details |
| Mission | LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration) is a collaborative mission between ISRO and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) scheduled for 2024-25. |
| Target Area | Polar regions of the Moon, including permanently shaded regions |
| Objectives | Explore lunar polar regions, investigate water abundance, study lunar surface
conditions, and potential for establishing long-term stations |
| Power Source | Onboard battery for landing in permanently shaded areas |
| Components | Launch vehicle and rover (contributed by JAXA) |
| Lander (provided by ISRO) | |
| Importance | Aims to study regions of the Moon not well-illuminated by the Sun |
| Focuses on understanding water distribution and potential for future exploration | |
| Investigate conditions for potential lunar habitats | |
| Contributes to India’s lunar exploration capabilities |
