UPSC Mains 2023 · GS III · Q16 · 15 marks · 250 words

What is the main task of India’s third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota.

हिन्दी में

भारत के तीसरे चंद्रमा मिशन का मुख्य कार्य क्या है जिसे इसके पहले के मिशन में हासिल नहीं किया जा सका? जिन देशों ने इस कार्य को हासिल कर लिया है उनकी सूची दीजिए। प्रक्षेपित अंतरिक्ष-यान की उपप्रणालियों को प्रस्तुत कीजिए और विक्रम साराभाई अंतरिक्ष केन्द्र के ‘आभासी प्रक्षेपण नियंत्रण केन्द्र’ की उस भूमिका का वर्णन कीजिए जिसने श्रीहरिकोटा से सफल प्रक्षेपण में योगदान दिया है।

Space Technology

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “How is Chandrayaan-3 different from its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2? To what extent can India's presence in Artemis Accords help in furthering the exploration of lunar surface?”

Kunal RastogiAIR 15 · CSE 2023 · 341 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Recently, Chandrayaan III launched by ISRO LVM3 became the first lander to soft land on the moon south pole at location 70°S of Equator (Moon).

Chandrayaan IIIChandrayaan II
(1) Onboard diagnostic and navigational devices for real time adjustment(1) only source of adjustment is from orbiter.
(2) No orbiter and primary relay done via Chandrayaan II orbiter(2) Separate orbiter pay Package.
(3) Specially reinforced legs to withstand landing speed upto 10 m/s(3) lack of reinforced leg → led to the crash.
(4) Extra fuel to aid in undertaking midflight course correction.(4) limited fuel, thus having limited capacity to alter the course.
(5) More larger and wider landing site(5) Reduced and very narrow landing zone.
(6) More solar panels (on 4 sides) → energy(6) fewer energy sources (2 solar panels)

Recently, in order to enhance success of Chandrayaan III, India joined the Artemis Accord led by USA

Body · points and prose

) fewer energy sources (2 solar panels) |

Recently, in order to enhance success of Chandrayaan III, India joined the Artemis Accord led by USA

→ Intention of creating base on Moon → Use it as transit for deep space exploration → enable exploration of mars

Close · a way forward

Artemis Accord help India in furthering Lunar Surface

AdvantagesLimitation
(1) Help collaborative endeavour with leading space agency including NASA, ESA, Canadian Space Agency(1) May create unhealthy competition for moon → violative of Moon Treaty and outer space treaty (1962)
(2) Enable Research sharing which would accelerate exploration process(2) Prevent India from collaborating with Russia, China
(3) Help India's cause of Human Space flight (Gaganyaan)(3) Can lead to India becoming junior partner of NASA
(4) Help explore lunar surface for materials like Helium 3 (used in fusion)

Thus India should leverage opportunity provided by Artemis, but at same time enhance its internal capacity via NSIL, INSPACE to achieve target set under Indian Space Policy, 2023

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper III, Q16. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.