Chandrayaan-3 Mission

• The flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine, which will power the cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, was recently completed successfully by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• In the Tamil Nadu ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, the test was successfully completed.

About Chandrayaan 3 Mission

• The Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft is the Third Lunar Exploration Mission (ISRO). This spacecraft was designed by the ISRO to showcase India's expertise in soft landings on stellar bodies. Only a rover and lander will be present, and it will only connect with the earth through an orbiter from Chandrayaan 2.
• This expansive purpose not only includes integration, and cognition but also several permutations. In addition, the spacecraft still needs to undergo some other thorough tests.

Chandrayaan 3's features

• A rover and lander will be aboard Chandrayaan 3 as it launches into space. There won't be any orbiters like Chandrayaan 2 in it.
• India wants to look at the Moon's surface, especially in regions that haven't seen sunlight in a few billion years. These darker regions of the lunar surface may contain Ice and Rich Mineral Deposits, according to scientists and astronomers.
• Additionally, this exploration will try to examine the exosphere, subsurface as well as surface.
• This spacecraft's rover will interact with the Earth through an orbiter salvaged from Chandrayaan 2.

At a distance of 100 km from the lunar orbit, it will take pictures of the surface to analyse it.

Why is it so important to explore the Moon?

• The Moon is the nearest celestial body at which space exploration can be tried and recorded.
• In addition, the Moon provides a suitable test site for demonstrating the technology needed for Deep Space Missions.
• Exploring the Moon will improve our comprehension of the celestial body, spur technological development, foster international cooperation, and incite new generations of scientists and explorers.

Why is the Moon's Lunar South Pole a focus of exploration?

• The best connection to Earth's early history and civilization is made by the Moon.
• The exploration will provide an unaltered historical record of the conditions in the Inner Solar System.
• The shadow-covered portion of the lunar surface at the South Pole is significantly bigger than at the North Pole, which makes it particularly interesting.
• In addition, places around it that are always in the shadows can be water homes.
• A fossil record of the early Solar System can also be found in cold trap craters near the South Pole.

Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3)

• The biggest rocket currently in service by India is the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3), the newest medium-heavy lift launch vehicle from ISRO. The rocket, formerly known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III), is primarily made to put satellites into geostationary orbit, which is a 35,000-kilometer orbit.
• With a larger cryogenic upper stage and a larger first stage than the GSLV Mk II, the LVM3 is able to lift substantially heavier satellites. Whereas the PSLV, which is launched into low Earth polar orbits, is a four-stage vehicle, both the GSLV Mk II and the LVM3 are three-stage rockets.
• The GSLV Mk-II is capable of launching up to 5,000 kg into low earth orbit and 2,500 kg into geosynchronous orbit. The LVM3 can lift up to 8,000 kg to LEO and up to 4,000 kg to GTO, in contrast. The heaviest rocket that is currently in use is America's SpaceX Falcon Heavy, a super-heavy lift vehicle.

The human-rated version of the LVM3, which will be utilised for also the Gaganyaan missions.