The Chandra Yan-1 mission refers to the first lunar probe launched by the Indian.

 The Chandra Yan-1 mission refers to the first lunar probe launched by the Indian.

The Chandra Yan-1 mission refers to the first lunar probe launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as part of the Chandrayaan program. Chandrayaan-1 was India's maiden mission to the Moon and aimed to study various aspects of Earth's natural satellite. Here are the full details about Chandrayaan-1:

1. Launch Date: Chandrayaan-1 was launched on October 22, 2008, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India.

2. Launch Vehicle: The spacecraft was launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C11), which is a four-stage launch vehicle developed by ISRO.

3. Objectives: The primary objectives of Chandrayaan-1 were to conduct high-resolution mapping of the lunar surface, study the chemical and mineralogical composition of the Moon, and identify potential water ice deposits in the polar regions.

4. Payloads: Chandrayaan-1 carried a suite of scientific instruments from India as well as other countries. The major payloads included:

   a. Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC): Provided three-dimensional images and topographical mapping of the lunar surface.

  b. Hyper Spectral Imager (HySI): Obtained spectral signatures to identify and map lunar minerals.

   

   c. Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI): Measured the distance between the spacecraft and the lunar surface.

   

   d. Moon Impact Probe (MIP): A small probe released by Chandrayaan-1 that impacted the lunar surface and performed experiments to study the composition of the Moon's surface layers.

   

   e. Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini-SAR): Detected the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles.

   

   f. Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyser (SARA): Studied the lunar exosphere, which consists of extremely thin and tenuous gases above the lunar surface.

   

   g. Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3): Provided data to map the distribution of minerals and water on the lunar surface.

5. Lunar Orbit: Chandrayaan-1 entered a polar lunar orbit at an altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles) above the Moon's surface. The mission was planned for two years, but due to technical issues, contact with the spacecraft was lost on August 29, 2009.

   

 

6. Major Discoveries: Despite its shortened mission, Chandrayaan-1 made significant discoveries. One of the key findings was the detection of water molecules on the lunar surface, specifically in the polar regions. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument confirmed the presence of hydroxyl and water ice in the permanently shadowed regions of the Moon.

7. Legacy: Chandrayaan-1 laid the foundation for future lunar missions and paved the way for the successful Chandrayaan-2 mission, launched in 2019. It demonstrated India's capabilities in lunar exploration and positioned ISRO as a prominent player in the field.

Chandrayaan-1 marked an important milestone for India's space exploration efforts, showcasing the country's scientific and technological capabilities in reaching and studying the Moon.