Chandrayaan-1 India’s first space mission to Moon was launched on 22nd October 2008, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Sriharikota, India.It was launched through PSLV-11 satellite launch vehicle.

        Chandrayaan-1, ISRO’s first mission, beyond Earth orbit, marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between ESA and India in space science.The meaning of “Chandrayaan” is “journey to the Moon” in Hindi. This implies that Chandrayaan-1 is being sent to the Moon, only because of to study the Moon.

        After launching, it will take about five and a half days to get to the Moon. Chandrayaan-1 will be in a 100 km polar orbit around the Moon. If you have any question about “Why India has sent Chabdrayaan-1?” here you can find the answer. The principal mission objective is to map the surface of the Moon in unprecedented detail. Scientists found that there will be Helium-3 gas in the Moon caters. Helium-3 is more precious than gold. It is useful in nuclear reactors as a fuel. It is less radioactive than Uranium, which is using extensively in nuclear reactors.

        Chandrayaan will produce maps with a resolution between 5 and 10 m across the whole surface of the Moon. There are some specific scientific goals in sending Chandrayaan-1.To prepare a three dimensional atlas of both near and far side of the Moon.

        To conduct chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface for distribution of elements such as Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Calcium, Iron with a spatial resolution of about 20km and high atomic number elements as Radon, Uranium with a spatial resolution of about 40 km. Historic Collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency):

        European Space Agency is collaborated with Indian Space Research Organization in this Chandrayaan-1 mission. Europe is supplying three instruments for the mission.

The second, Infrared Spectrometer, known as SIR-2, will observe the chemical composition of the Moon’s crust and mantle.

The third is Sub-Kev Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA). With no atmosphere, the Moon’s surface is constantly bombarded by the wind of particles released by the Sun. SARA will monitor these interactions and use them to image the Moon’s surface composition, study magnetic anomalies and study the gases released from lunar surface by the collision of the solar particles.

This is the good opportunity for Indian Space, to enhance the space technology. This Chandrayaan-1 mission will be a stepping-stone to future missions.

See Pictures of Launch of Chandrayaan-1