Editor's Pick: Chandrayaan propulsion, lander modules separate

On Thursday, India’s moon mission Chandrayaan-3 completed another milestone as its propulsion module and the lander module parted ways from the spacecraft 34 days after take-off, embarking on their respective journeys. After the separation, ISRO posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Thanks for the ride, mate!’ said the Lander Module (LM). LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST.” The Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module, a propulsion module, and a rover. According to ISRO, “The lander will have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the rover, which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. The lander and the rover have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar surface.” The propulsion module also has one scientific payload that will be operated post-separation of the lander module. The payload will be operational for a period of three to six months. The lander and the rover have a mission life of one lunar day (14 earth days). As of now, the propulsion module continues its journey in the current orbit and will continue to do so possibly for months or years. The Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload on board the propulsion module would perform a spectroscopic study of the Earth’s atmosphere and measure the variations in polarisation from the clouds on Earth to accumulate signatures of exoplanets that would qualify for habitability by humans. This payload is the work of U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, Bengaluru. After the separation of the two modules, a series of complex braking manoeuvres will be executed to facilitate a soft landing in the south-polar region of the moon. The lander is expected to touch down on the moon’s surface on August 23 at 5.47 p.m. If Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft-lands on the lunar surface it will make India the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat after the United States, Russia, and China and the first to do so on the lunar South pole. The Hindu’s Editorials Fighting stereotypes: On the Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes Noble intentions: On the PM Vishwakarma scheme for traditional workers The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Which of the following treaties deals with conservation of wetlands? Basel Convention, 1989 Rotterdam Convention, 1998 Bonn Convention, 1979 Ramsar Convention, 1971 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 18 August 2023 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Chandrayaan propulsion, lander modules separate On Thursday, India’s moon mission Chandrayaan-3 [completed another milestone]( as its propulsion module and the lander module parted ways from the spacecraft 34 days after take-off, embarking on their respective journeys. After the separation, ISRO posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Thanks for the ride, mate!’ said the Lander Module (LM). LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST.” The Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module, a propulsion module, and a rover. According to ISRO, “The lander will have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the rover, which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. The lander and the rover have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar surface.” The propulsion module also has one scientific payload that will be operated post-separation of the lander module. The payload will be operational for a period of three to six months. The lander and the rover have a mission life of one lunar day (14 earth days). As of now, the propulsion module continues its journey in the current orbit and will continue to do so possibly for months or years. The Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload on board the propulsion module would perform a spectroscopic study of the Earth’s atmosphere and measure the variations in polarisation from the clouds on Earth to accumulate signatures of exoplanets that would qualify for habitability by humans. This payload is the work of U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, Bengaluru. After the separation of the two modules, a series of complex braking manoeuvres will be executed to facilitate a soft landing in the south-polar region of the moon. The lander is expected to touch down on the moon’s surface on August 23 at 5.47 p.m. If Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft-lands on the lunar surface it will make India the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat after the United States, Russia, and China and the first to do so on the lunar South pole. The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Fighting stereotypes: On the Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes]( [Arrow][Noble intentions: On the PM Vishwakarma scheme for traditional workers]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Which of the following treaties deals with conservation of wetlands? - Basel Convention, 1989 - Rotterdam Convention, 1998 - Bonn Convention, 1979 - Ramsar Convention, 1971 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here](. 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