India's first unmanned lunar mission Chandrayaan-1

Last Updated22/10/2021

Chandrayaan-1 was the first Indian lunar probe under the Chandrayaan program, which was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation on 22 October 2008.
This was launched by using a PSLV-XL rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
On 14 November 2008, the Moon Impact Probe separated from the Chandrayaan orbiter & struck the south pole in a controlled manner, making India the fourth country to place its flag insignia on the Moon.

The probe hit near the crater Shackleton at 15:01 UTC, ejecting sub-surface soil that could be analysed for the presence of lunar water ice.
The location of impact was named Jawahar Point.
The estimated cost for the project was Rs386 crores (US$51 million)
Chandrayaan-1 operated for 312 days as opposed to the intended two years, but the mission achieved most of its scientific objectives.
On 2 July 2016, NASA used ground-based radar systems to relocate Chandrayaan-1 in its lunar orbit, more than seven years after it shut down.
Repeated observations over the next three months allowed a precise determination of its orbit which varies between 150 and 270 km (93 and 168 mi) in altitude every two years.

To design, develop, launch and orbit a spacecraft around the Moon using an Indian-made launch vehicle.
To conduct scientific experiments using instruments on the spacecraft which would yield data.
For the preparation of a three-dimensional atlas (with high spatial and altitude resolution of 5–10 m or 16–33 ft) of both the near and far sides of the Moon
For chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface at high spatial resolution, mapping particularly the chemical elements magnesium, aluminium, silicon, calcium, iron, titanium, radon, uranium, and thorium.

High-resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging of the permanently shadowed north- and south-polar regions
Searching for surface or sub-surface lunar water-ice, especially at the lunar poles
Identification of chemicals in lunar highland rocks
Chemical stratigraphy of the lunar crust by remote sensing of the central uplands of large lunar craters, and of the South Pole Aitken Region (SPAR), an expected site of interior material.