Chandrayaan-1 starts observing the Moon
November 25th, 2008 - 12:30 pm ICT by ANI
Paris, Nov 25 (ANI): After Indias lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1 released a probe that impacted close to the south pole of the Moon on November 14, the instruments on the spacecraft are being switched on to get the science observations started.
The Moon Impact Probe was dropped close to Shackleton crater, a place close to the south pole, where ice may exist in areas that are never illuminated by the Sun.
It carried three instruments: a video imaging system, a radar altimeter and a mass spectrometer.
The imaging system took pictures of the Moon as it approached the surface, the radar was used to determine the altitude, and the mass spectrometer was used to study the thin lunar atmosphere.
The probe was released from the spacecraft on November 14 and took 25 minutes to reach the surface. As it descended, the probe transmitted pictures to the orbiter that were later downloaded to Earth.
The Terrain Mapping Camera, TMC, and the Radiation Dose Monitor, RADOM, were functional by that time on the orbiter.
After the impact of the probe, the remaining orbiter instruments were switched on consecutively for their commissioning activities.
During commissioning, all standard operating modes of an instrument are exercised and the data and housekeeping parameters are examined to verify that everything is working properly.
The European near-infrared spectrometer SIR-2, which was commissioned successfully on November 19, was also switched on and sent back housekeeping data indicating normal functionality.
Science observations were started successfully on November 20.
The Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer, C1XS, was first activated on November 23, and its commissioning is in progress.
The Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyser, SARA will be commissioned from 7 to 10 December. The commissioning for this instrument will take longer than usual because the instrument operates at a high-voltage, which will be increased in steps.
Chandrayaan-1, Indias first mission to venture beyond Earth orbit, was launched on October 22, 2008. The mission is led by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). (ANI)
- Indian Tricolour Placed on the Moon on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's Birthday - Nov 15, 2008
- 'Moon water is more precious than gold' (Lead) - Sep 24, 2009
- Scientists to review India's moon mission saga - Sep 06, 2009
- India's second moon mission to carry five instruments - Aug 30, 2010
- Colours of Indian flag on moon Friday - Nov 13, 2008
- 'Moon water is more precious than gold' - Sep 24, 2009
- Space scientists laud India's moon mission data despite setback - Sep 07, 2009
- Two more Chandrayaan instruments to be activated in mid-December - Nov 29, 2008
- Countdown for landing Indian probe on moon begins - Nov 14, 2008
- Indian tricolour on destination moon (Lead) - Nov 14, 2008
- After India lands probe on moon, focus back on spacecraft - Nov 15, 2008
- India on the moon, with tricolour (Second Lead) - Nov 15, 2008
- Deep Impact Spacecraft to fly past Earth for the last time - Jun 26, 2010
- India to show presence through Indo-Russian robotic mission - Aug 13, 2010
- Moon has more water than Great Lakes, Chandrayaan data shows - Jun 15, 2010
Tags: chandrayaan, housekeeping data, housekeeping parameters, imaging system, infrared spectrometer, lunar atmosphere, lunar orbiter, mapping camera, mass spectrometer, observing the moon, orbiter instruments, pictures of the moon, radar altimeter, radiation dose, ray spectrometer, science observations, south pole, terrain mapping, video imaging, x ray
