The main purpose of the Chandrayaan-3 mission is to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. The mission is specifically aimed at the lunar south pole, a region with water ice that could be a potential source of oxygen, fuel, and water. The objectives of the mission include:
- Engineering and implementing a lander to land safely and softly on the surface of the Moon.
- Observing and demonstrating the rovers driving capabilities.
- Investigating the lunar south pole region for potential resources, such as water ice.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a follow-on to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which was launched in 2019. Chandrayaan-2 consisted of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover, while Chandrayaan-3 will not have an orbiter but will include a lander and a rover similar to its predecessor. The propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 will behave like a communications relay satellite and will carry the lander and rover configuration until the spacecraft is in a 100km lunar orbit.
