Questions and Answers
What was the launch vehicle used for the Chandrayaan-1 mission?
What was the primary objective of the Chandrayaan-1 mission regarding water?
How long was the mission duration initially planned for Chandrayaan-1?
Which instrument on Chandrayaan-1 was used for creating a 3D map of the lunar surface?
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What significant discovery was made by Chandrayaan-1?
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What was the weight of Chandrayaan-1 at launch?
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Which organization was responsible for launching Chandrayaan-1?
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How much did the Chandrayaan-1 mission approximately cost?
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What significant discovery did Chandrayaan-1 achieve during its mission?
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Which component of Chandrayaan-1 was responsible for mapping the lunar surface?
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Who was the Project Director of Chandrayaan-1?
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On what date did the Moon Impact Probe of Chandrayaan-1 successfully impact the Moon?
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What was the duration of operation for Chandrayaan-1 before it lost communication?
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Which of the following figures was NOT mentioned as being part of the Chandrayaan-1 mission team?
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Which organization led the Chandrayaan-1 mission?
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What was one of the main scientific objectives of the Chandrayaan-1 mission?
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Study Notes
Mission Overview
- Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission, was launched by ISRO on October 22, 2008.
- Utilized the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) model PSLV-C11 for launch.
- Initially planned for a 2-year mission, it operated for approximately 312 days.
- The spacecraft weighed 1,380 kg at launch and had a total cost of around ₹386 crore (~$76 million).
Objectives
- Aimed to conduct high-resolution chemical and mineralogical mapping of the Moon's surface across multiple spectra (visible, near-infrared, X-ray).
- Sought to detect water molecules in lunar soil, focusing on polar regions.
- Included an impact probe experiment using the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) for a hard landing test.
Instruments Onboard
- Chandrayaan-1 housed 11 scientific instruments: five from India and six international payloads.
- Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC): Created detailed 3D surface maps.
- Hyper Spectral Imager (HySI): Conducted mineralogical mapping.
- Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI): Measured the distance from the spacecraft to the Moon's surface.
- X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS): Studied surface composition in collaboration with ESA.
- Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini-SAR): From NASA, designed to find water-ice in polar areas.
- Moon Impact Probe (MIP): Carried instruments for imaging, altimetry, and spectrometry, and was deployed to impact the lunar surface.
Key Achievements
- Confirmed the presence of water/hydroxyl molecules on the Moon's surface, particularly in polar regions, through data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3).
- Successfully mapped about 95% of the lunar surface at high resolution.
- The MIP impacted the Moon on November 14, 2008, carrying the Indian national flag and contributing valuable data on the Moon’s atmosphere and surface composition.
Key People Involved
- Dr. G. Madhavan Nair: Chairman of ISRO during the mission; crucial in overseeing Chandrayaan-1.
- Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai: Project Director; instrumental in planning and coordination.
- Dr. S. Satish: Director of Public Relations at ISRO; responsible for communicating mission progress to the public.
- Prof. U.R. Rao: Former ISRO Chairman; provided key advisory support.
- T.K. Alex: Director at ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC); led the satellite’s design and development.
Mission Conclusion
- Communication with ISRO ceased on August 28, 2009, concluding the mission after 312 days.
- Recognized as a tremendous success, achieving most of its scientific objectives, especially the discovery of water.
- Enhanced understanding of the Moon’s surface and set the stage for future lunar exploration initiatives.
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Description
Test your knowledge about Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission launched on October 22, 2008. This quiz covers crucial details about the mission, including its launch vehicle, duration, and contributions to lunar science. See how well you understand this significant step in India's space exploration journey!
