ISRO: All set to launch Chandrayaan I

The integration of all instruments on the Indian Space Agency's Chandrayaan-1, India's prestigious lunar mission, is now complete and validation tests to check the functionality of the spacecraft and the suite of instruments are underway. The spacecraft will be launched between October 19 and October 28, according to former ISRO chairman, Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan. The spacecraft will carry five Indian and six international payloads and will be launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Named after the renowned Indian Astrophysicist and Noble Laureate Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, the Chandrayaan mission is aimed at high-resolution remote sensing of the moon in visible, near infrared(NIR), low energy X-rays and high-energy X-ray regions.

Mission Objectives :

To realize the mission goal of harnessing the science payloads, lunar craft and the launch vehicle with suitable ground support systems including DSN station. To realize the integration and testing, launching and achieving lunar polar orbit of about 100 km, in-orbit operation of experiments, communication/ telecommand, telemetry data reception, quick look data and archival for scientific utilization by identified group of scientists.

Scientific Objectives :

Specifically the objectives will be

	To prepare a three-dimensional atlas (with a high spatial and altitude resolution of 5-10m) 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 and Titanium with a spatial resolution of about 25 km and high atomic number elements such as Radon, Uranium & Thorium with a spatial resolution of about 20 km.

Simultaneous photo geological and chemical mapping will enable identification of different geological units, which will test the early evolutionary history of the moon and help in determining the nature and stratigraphy of the lunar crust.