The name Chandrayaan-3 is a combination of the words "Chandra", which means "moon" in Sanskrit, and "yaan", which means "vehicle".
Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The mission aims to soft-land a lander and rover on the lunar surface near the South Pole. The lander is named Vikram, after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program.
The rover is named Pragyan, which means "wisdom" in Sanskrit. The mission will use a new type of propulsion system that is more reliable and efficient.
The mission will also carry eight scientific payloads to study the lunar surface and atmosphere. Chandrayaan 3 is expected to land on the lunar south pole, where there is evidence of water ice.
Chandrayaan 3 is a follow-up to the Chandrayaan 2 mission, which failed to land on the moon in 2019. The mission is a major technological challenge for ISRO.
The mission will also study the moon's geology, composition, and environment. The mission is a significant step forward for India's space program.
The mission is expected to cost around ₹900 crore (US$120 million). The mission is expected to generate a wealth of scientific data that will help us to better understand the moon and its environment.
The success of Chandrayaan-3 will be a major boost for India's space program and will help to position India as a leading player in the global space race.