Chandrayaan i

India’s Mission To India’s Mission To MoonMoonNOTE : THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ISRO DOCUMENT

From Chand-Mama of our From Chand-Mama of our childhood to the Chandrayaanchildhood to the Chandrayaannow, the moon continues to now, the moon continues to fascinate and attract us.fascinate and attract us.

Chandra-DevChandra-Dev

Man On The Moon

The Moon was naturally the first target once man The Moon was naturally the first target once man reached out for outer space in the 50’s and 60’s.reached out for outer space in the 50’s and 60’s.

The two countries America and Soviet Russia The two countries America and Soviet Russia began a competition to reach the moon first.began a competition to reach the moon first.The space-race ended with Neil Armstrong’s The space-race ended with Neil Armstrong’s Landing on the Moon in an Apollo-11 rocket.Landing on the Moon in an Apollo-11 rocket.

Apollo-11 Apollo-11 Rocket.Rocket.

India’s Space Programme

At around the same time in 1962 India At around the same time in 1962 India started her Space Programme under the started her Space Programme under the able leadership of Prof. Vikram Sarabhai.able leadership of Prof. Vikram Sarabhai.

India was still a poor country then and India was still a poor country then and Could not afford the amount of money Could not afford the amount of money foreign space powers spent on their foreign space powers spent on their space programmes. space programmes.

The Nation’s Space pioneers decidedThe Nation’s Space pioneers decidedto create programmes that would help to create programmes that would help the common man of the country.the common man of the country.

Prof. Vikram Sarabhai.Prof. Vikram Sarabhai.The Father of India’sThe Father of India’sSpace Programme.Space Programme.

India’s Space Programme:The Early Years….

This small Church at This small Church at Thumba housed the Thumba housed the first satellite centre of first satellite centre of India’s space India’s space programme !programme !

India’s Space Programme:Humble Beginnings - I

Always running on a tight budget, the early space Always running on a tight budget, the early space scientists of our country created a space programme scientists of our country created a space programme on little else other than determination and hard-work !on little else other than determination and hard-work !

Future President Dr APJ Abdul KalamFuture President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam(on right) working on a rocket payload (on right) working on a rocket payload at Thumba in 1964.at Thumba in 1964.It was so hot His co-worker It was so hot His co-worker Prof. Aravamudan had to work with Prof. Aravamudan had to work with His shirt off !His shirt off !

Anything for the country !Anything for the country !

India’s Space Programme:Humble Beginnings - II

Rocket parts being carried by Bullock carts !Rocket parts being carried by Bullock carts !

India’s Space Programme:Humble Beginnings - III

Scientists transporting a rocket Scientists transporting a rocket nose-cone on a bi-cycle !nose-cone on a bi-cycle !

Scientists use muscle power to Scientists use muscle power to lift a rocket to its launching pad !lift a rocket to its launching pad !

Cranes and specialised vehicles were Cranes and specialised vehicles were luxuries they could ill afford !luxuries they could ill afford !

What Is A Satellite ?

Just like the moon revolves Just like the moon revolves around the earth, satellites are around the earth, satellites are man-made objects that revolve man-made objects that revolve around the earth utilising its around the earth utilising its Gravitational attraction.Gravitational attraction.

India’s EduSat in its India’s EduSat in its orbit around the earth.orbit around the earth.

What Are Satellites Used For ?Ans:- Communication !

Satellites are used for virtually Satellites are used for virtually everything from mobile phone everything from mobile phone services to live TV broadcasts.services to live TV broadcasts.

Next time you watch the Next time you watch the India vs Australia cricket match,India vs Australia cricket match,remember it’s an Indian satellite remember it’s an Indian satellite up in the sky making it possible !up in the sky making it possible !

What Are Satellites Used For ? Ans:- Earth Observation !

Satellites are also used for Satellites are also used for weather forecasting and carry weather forecasting and carry cameras for taking pictures cameras for taking pictures of earth.of earth.

With these pictures scientistsWith these pictures scientistscan predict floods, food can predict floods, food production and also find out production and also find out places where useful things places where useful things like water and valuable like water and valuable minerals are available.minerals are available.

New Delhi From Indian Satellite Cartosat-2A

Satellite Image.Satellite Image.

Source : WikimapiaSource : Wikimapia

RKM Asansol From The Sky !

Note : This image is old and therefore recent developments on thecampus are not shown.

How Are Satellites Launched Into Space ?

To launch them into space, To launch them into space, Satellites are carried atop rockets.Satellites are carried atop rockets.The rocket carries the satellite insideThe rocket carries the satellite insideprotective covering that protects it fromprotective covering that protects it frombeing burnt up by atmospheric friction.being burnt up by atmospheric friction.

On reaching outer space the protective On reaching outer space the protective covering is blown away and the satellite covering is blown away and the satellite Is injected into its orbit.Is injected into its orbit.It then starts going around the Earth under It then starts going around the Earth under the influence of gravity.the influence of gravity.

Chandrayaan : Satellite Of The Moon ?

Just like earth-bound Just like earth-bound satellites study the earth, satellites study the earth, Chandrayaan-I will study Chandrayaan-I will study the Moon and will in effect the Moon and will in effect become a satellite of the become a satellite of the moon for 2 years !moon for 2 years !

Chandrayaan-I studying the moon’s surface.

What Will The Chandrayaan Study ?

Create a map of the Moon that will help us if man Create a map of the Moon that will help us if man finally builds a lunar base.finally builds a lunar base. It will search for water on the Moon, which would be It will search for water on the Moon, which would be needed for human settlement there. needed for human settlement there. Search for precious minerals which can be mined in the Search for precious minerals which can be mined in the future for the benefit of mankind. Minerals supplies on future for the benefit of mankind. Minerals supplies on earth are quickly coming to an end !earth are quickly coming to an end !

How a Lunar Base might look like

Chandrayaan Carries The Largest Number of Scientific Instruments !

Chandrayan carries as many as ELEVEN scientific payloadsChandrayan carries as many as ELEVEN scientific payloadsto study the Moon out of which FIVE are from India. to study the Moon out of which FIVE are from India. No other mooncraft in the past has had that many scientific No other mooncraft in the past has had that many scientific Instruments !Instruments !

In an effort to boost co-operation among nations ISRO hasIn an effort to boost co-operation among nations ISRO hasmagnaminously allowed other countries like USA,UK, Germany magnaminously allowed other countries like USA,UK, Germany and other European nations to put their instrumentsand other European nations to put their instrumentson the mooncraft at no extra cost !on the mooncraft at no extra cost !

Chandrayaan-I will add a lot to mankind’s knowledge Chandrayaan-I will add a lot to mankind’s knowledge of the moon !of the moon !

Chandrayaan Will CarryThe Indian Flag to Moon !

Indian Tri-Colour Indian Tri-Colour will be carried in will be carried in the instrument the instrument at the top, called at the top, called the moon-impactthe moon-impactprobe (MIP) which probe (MIP) which will impact on the will impact on the moon !moon !

Proof of India’s triumph over the Moon !

What will carry theChandrayaan to moon ?

The Gigantic PSLV Rocket, The Gigantic PSLV Rocket, Chandrayaan’sChandrayaan’s bahan ! bahan !

Seen here on the launch pad.Seen here on the launch pad.

PSLV weighs As much As EIGHTY elephants !

PSLV : How Heavy is it ?

PSLV : How Tall is it ?

PSLV is as tall as aPSLV is as tall as a

15 15 storey building !storey building !

It’s a Giant comparedIt’s a Giant comparedto an elephant or a man !to an elephant or a man !

The PSLV Rocket :Day Before Launch.

PSLV being transported to its launch pad in Sriharikota island in Andhra Pradesh.

The Bay of Bengal is visible in the Background.

Note how smallpeople at the Bottom and thetruck at bottomright corner look !

Moving A Giant !Moving A Giant !

Night Before The Exam: Preparation Time !

PSLV on it’s launch pad.

Work goes on in the dead of nightto prepare for the launchearly next morning !

The Scientists and Technicians toil 24 hours a day, 7 days aweek in the run-up to the launch !!

A Cloudy Morning.

The morninggreets ISRO scientists withpoor weather.

There are concerns allaround about ifthey would be able to launch.

Spectators gather to witness the historic moment.Spectators gather to witness the historic moment.

LAUNCH !

One Billion Celebrate As India Aims for the Moon !

Anxious Moments !

The Scientistsanxiously wait for the first part of the journey tocomplete successfully.

The Man Behind Chandrayaan

M. Annadurai Project Director, Chandrayaan - I

At the moment He may be one of the leading Space Scientists of theWorld but Prof. Annadurai spent His childhood in a remote village in TamilNadu without seeing a light bulb for the first seven years of His life !

A very humble and down-to-earth person, all His education has been in India while His work is World-class !

The Men Behind Chandrayaan

A real life Hero !

Prof. Annaduraifinds time out ofhis busy schedulefor Chandrayaanto perform puja onDeepavali !

Preparation Time !

India’s Rockets : Over The Years

Chandrayaan’s Yatra :From the Earth to the Moon