India’s ISRO Prepares for Monumental Lunar Sample Return Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on an extraordinary mission to collect soil and rock samples from the Moon and transport them back to Earth. This groundbreaking Lunar Sample Return Mission (LSRM) represents a significant advancement for India’s space exploration efforts.
Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Application Centre (SAC) at ISRO, discussed the mission, stating, “ISRO is now planning a bigger mission, where we will try to bring back soil or rock samples. Hopefully, in the next five to seven years, we will be able to meet this challenge,” as reported by the Indian Express.
The LSRM consists of four key modules: the Transfer module, Lander module, Ascender module, and Re-entry module. Interestingly, this mission will depart from ISRO’s traditional approach by utilizing two separate launch vehicles to carry out the complex operation.
The mission’s design includes a robotic arm mechanism for sample collection at the Shiv Shakti point on the lunar surface. The samples will then be loaded onto the Ascender module. After liftoff from the lunar surface, the Ascender module will dock onto the Transfer module, where another robotic arm will transfer the samples to the Re-entry module. Ultimately, both the transfer and re-entry modules are expected to return and land on Earth.
Key Highlights of ISRO’s LSRM Mission:
– The mission, scheduled for a 2028 launch, aims to collect soil/rock samples from the Shiv Shakti point on the lunar surface.
– Departing from convention, ISRO will employ two launch vehicles—GSLV Mark-II for the Transfer and Re-entry modules, and GSLV Mark-III for the Ascender and Lander modules.
– The project, similar to the successful Chandrayaan 3 in August, is designed for one lunar day (equivalent to 14 days on Earth), focusing on studying the Moon’s surface, soil, and samples.
– ISRO’s LSRM draws parallels with NASA’s recent collection of samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, accomplished by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft after a seven-year journey.
This ambitious and pioneering mission by ISRO is poised to elevate India’s standing in the field of space exploration and research.
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