The purpose of Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission launched in 2008, was primarily scientific exploration of the Moon through high-resolution remote sensing and mapping. Its key objectives included:
- Preparing a detailed three-dimensional atlas of both the near and far sides of the Moon with high spatial and altitude resolution (5-10 meters).
- Conducting chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface to identify the distribution of elements such as magnesium, aluminum, silicon, calcium, iron, titanium, and radioactive elements like radon, uranium, and thorium.
- Studying the Moon's surface composition and geology to understand its early evolutionary history, crust stratigraphy, and the nature of impactors that bombarded the Moon.
- Searching for surface or subsurface water ice, especially in permanently shadowed polar regions.
- Mapping lunar topography and height variations of surface features.
- Testing the impact of a sub-satellite (Moon Impact Probe) on the lunar surface as a precursor for future soft-landing missions.
The mission carried 11 scientific instruments to achieve these goals, including imaging spectrometers, X-ray spectrometers, a terrain mapping camera, and a lunar laser ranging instrument. Chandrayaan-1 also played a crucial role in confirming the presence of water molecules on the Moon, a significant scientific discovery
. In summary, Chandrayaan-1 aimed to advance lunar science by detailed mapping and analysis of the Moon's surface and composition, while demonstrating India's capability to design, launch, and operate a lunar orbiter using an indigenous launch vehicle
