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Moon Impact Probe

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Template:Infobox Spacecraft The Moon Impact Probe (MIP) developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India's national space agency, was a lunar probe that was released by ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 lunar remote sensing orbiter. India launched the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft on 22 October 2008.

The Moon Impact Probe successfully separated from the moon-orbiting Chandrayaan-1 on 14 November 2008, 20:06 and was deliberately crashed into the lunar south pole. The MIP impacted Shackleton Crater, of the lunar south pole, at 20:31 on 14 November 2008 releasing subsurface debris that could be analyzed by the orbiter for presence of water ice.[1]

The MIP depicted pictures of the Indian flag on its sides. With this, India became the fourth nation to have an image of its flag reach the surface of the Moon,[2] after the Soviet Union, United States and Japan.[3]

Mission objectives

Trajectory of MIP
Trajectory of MIP

The Moon Impact Probe (MIP) was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India's national space agency. It was a lunar probe that was released by ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 lunar remote sensing orbiter.

The scientific objectives of the MIP were to demonstrate the technologies required for crash landing a probe at a specified location on the Moon, qualifying technologies required for any future soft landing missions, and scientific exploration of the moon from close range just prior to the impact.[2][4]

The probe was designed to impact the lunar surface to throw up sub-surface lunar material which could then be analyzed, by instruments on-board the orbiting Chandrayaan, for presence of water ice, organics, and other materials.[5][6]

Payload

The MIP carried three instruments:[7]

  • Radar Altimeter – which measured the altitude of the probe during descent and provided information on qualifying technologies for future landing missions. The operating frequency band was 4.3 GHz ± 100 MHz.
  • Video Imaging System – acquired close range images of the surface of the Moon during descent and before impact. The video imaging system consisted of an analog CCD camera.
  • Mass Spectrometer – measured trace constituents of the lunar atmosphere during descent. This instrument was a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a mass resolution of 0.5 amu and sensitivities to partial pressures on the order of 1.3×10-11 pascals.

The probe carried four oval shaped anodised aluminium plates measuring 120mm X 180 mm[8] on which the image of the Indian flag was depicted, complete with the Emblem of India and the words "Satyameva Jayate".[8] These plates were attached to each one of the four vertical sides of the probe. As per ISRO specifications these plates had to endure a temperature range from -50 degrees celsius and as high as +150 degrees celsius.[8]

Mission chronology

India launched the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was using a modified version of the PSLV C11[9][10] on 22 October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 06:22 IST (00:52 UTC).[11]

The lunar probe separated from Chandrayaan-1, in a 102 km circular polar orbit around the Moon, at 20:06 IST on 14 November 2008.[1] After separation, it first fired its spin up rockets and then its retro rocket to lower itself to an orbit intersecting the lunar surface.[12][13] While descending, the MIP continuously sent information back to the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter which in turn beamed the information back to earth. After a 25 minute controlled descent, it impacted the Moon at 20:31 IST, 14 November 2008 at a speed of 1.69 kilometers per second (approximately 6100 km/h or 3800 miles per hour).[13] The planned impact terminated the MIP.[12] The MIP impacted Shackleton Crater, of the lunar south pole, at 20:31 on 14 November 2008 releasing subsurface debris that could be analyzed by the orbiter for presence of water ice.[1]

Photographs

References

  1. ^ a b c "Chandrayaan team over the moon". The Hindu. 2008-11-15.
  2. ^ a b "Payload bearing Tricolour will land on Moon". Economic Times. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  3. ^ The multi-national European Space Agency also preceded India with a lunar lander, but apparently did not leave flags.
  4. ^ "Moon Impact Probe". ISRO.
  5. ^ Thomas, Claire (2008-11-05). "Moon craters may hold traces of early life". Cosmos.
  6. ^ "Chandrayaan team over the moon". The Hindu. 2008-11-15.
  7. ^ "Moon Impact Probe (MIP)". ISRO. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  8. ^ a b c "Blore firm behind the Chandrayaan tri-colour". Deccan Herald. 2008-11-16. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  9. ^ "Mission Sequence". Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  10. ^ "Chandrayaan-1 shifted to VAB". The Hindu. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  11. ^ "PSLV-C11 Successfully Launches Chandrayaan-1". Indian Express. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  12. ^ a b "Indian Tricolour Placed on the Moon". ISRO. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
  13. ^ a b "Indian Tricolour lands on Moon". The Indian Express. 14 Nov 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
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