On 21 October 2023 the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the successful launch of ______________TV D1 Test Flight and remarked that it takes the nation one step closer to realizing India's first human space flight program.

Aspect

Aditya-L1 Mission

Chandrayaan-3 Mission

Mission Objective

To study the Sun, its activities, and their impact on space weather.

To achieve a soft landing on the Moon and conduct scientific experiments.

Launch Date

September 2, 2023

July 14, 2023

Launch Vehicle

PSLV XL

GSLV Mk III

Lunar Orbit Entry: August 5, 2023

Soft Landing on Moon: August 23, 2023 (near Lunar South Pole)

Orbit

Halo orbit around Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1 (L1)

Lunar orbit, with a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole.

Key Payloads

1. VELC – Studies solar corona.
2. SUIT – Images solar photosphere.
3. SoLEXS – Soft X-ray spectrometer.
4. HEL1OS – Hard X-ray spectrometer.
5. ASPEX – Studies solar wind and energetic ions.
6. PAPA – Plasma composition data.
7. MAG – Measures interplanetary magnetic field.

1. Propulsion Module – Carries lander and rover.
2. Vikram (Lander) – Equipped with scientific instruments like ChaSTE, ILSA, LP, and NASA’s laser retroreflector.
3. Pragyan (Rover) – Equipped with APXS and LIBS for studying the lunar surface.

Scientific Goals

1. Study coronal heating and solar wind acceleration.
2. Investigate solar flares, CME initiation, and space weather.
3. Understand solar wind distribution and its interaction with the environment.

1. Demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar surface.
2. Enable rover mobility and study the lunar surface and subsurface.
3. Conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

Key Milestone

Launched successfully and reached L1 halo orbit to provide continuous solar observations.

Successful soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023.

Scientific Instruments

VELC (solar corona study), SUIT (solar images), SoLEXS/HEL1OS (X-ray study), ASPEX/PAPA/MAG (solar wind and magnetic field data).

ChaSTE (thermal conductivity and temperature), ILSA (seismic activity), LP (plasma density), APXS/LIBS (elemental composition of lunar surface).

Spacecraft Components

1. Propulsion module (for orbiting L1).
2. Seven scientific payloads for solar studies.

1. Propulsion module (for lunar orbit insertion).
2. Lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragyan).