ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 Successfully Undergoes Key Test
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that the EMI-EMC test for Chandrayaan-3’s lander was successful. This test is important for ensuring that the satellite subsystems will function in space and are compatible with expected electromagnetic levels.
Chandrayaan-3 is a complex interplanetary mission with three modules that require establishing radio-frequency communication links between them. The test included launcher compatibility, antenna polarization, auto compatibility tests, and lander and rover compatibility tests. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration to 100 km of the Moon’s orbit and study Earth with the SHAPE payload. The final launch date is yet to be announced.
Important to Know
Before satellite missions, the EMI-EMC test is conducted to ensure that the satellite subsystems will function properly in space and are compatible with expected electromagnetic levels.
ISRO emphasized the significance of the test, stating that since Chandrayaan-3 is an interplanetary mission with three major modules – the Propulsion module, Lander module, and Rover – it is crucial to establish radio-frequency communication links between them due to the mission’s complexity. The agency considers the successful completion of this test as a major milestone in realizing the satellites.
About Chandrayan-3
According to ISRO, the Chandrayaan-3 mission will showcase the capability of safe landing and roving on the lunar surface, following the Chandrayaan-2 mission. It consists of a lander and rover configuration and will be launched by GSLV MkIII from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located on an island off the Bay of Bengal coast, known as the spaceport of India.
The propulsion module will transport the lander and rover configuration to 100 km of the Moon’s orbit and will also use the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth. Although the final launch date has not been announced yet, it is expected to be in the second or third quarter of this year.
