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Moon Impact Probe
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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 which in turn was launched, on 22nd October, 2008, aboard a modified version of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The Moon Impact Probe successfully separated from the moon-orbiting Chandrayaan-1 on 14 November 2008, 20:06 and was crashed, as per plan, into the lunar south pole after a controlled descent.
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Encyclopedia
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 which in turn was launched, on 22nd October, 2008, aboard a modified version of ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The Moon Impact Probe successfully separated from the moon-orbiting Chandrayaan-1 on 14 November 2008, 20:06 and was crashed, as per plan, into the lunar south pole after a controlled descent. The MIP impacted Shackleton Crater, of the lunar south pole, at 20:31 on 14 November 2008 releasing subsurface debris that could be analysed by the orbiter for presence of water ice. With this mission, India became the fourth entity to reach the lunar surface. Other entities which have reached the lunar surface are the former Soviet Union, United States and the European Space Agency (currently owned by 18 member nations).
Kalam's Vision
The probe was a product of former President Abdul Kalam's vision who felt that since the Chandrayaan orbiter was already going so near to the moon, the mission would have more scientific relevance if the probe was included. Kalam believed that the moon could not be left to a few countries and that India should not be left behind. He suggested the probe to ISRO where it was enthusiastically supported.
The inclusion of flag on the probe lead to a lot of media chatter about India planting its flag on the moon. The Times of India also reported a political motive on behalf of former president Abdul Kalam as "He believed that if this was done, India could always stake a claim to a portion of the Moon.". At the same time, The Indian Express reported Kalam as saying "no nation can claim the moon as its own. The resources of the moon should be a common property and that is one of the aims of the moon mission."
Mission objectives
The main objectives of the MIP were to demonstrate the technologies required for drop it 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.
The probe was designed to collide with the lunar surface to throw up sub-surface lunar material which could then be analysed, by instruments on-board the orbiting Chandrayaan, for presence of water ice, organics, and other materials.
Payload
The MIP carried three instruments:
- 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 probes external surface had four oval shaped anodised aluminium plates measuring 120mm X 180 mm on which the image of the Indian flag was depicted, complete with the Emblem of India and the words "Satyameva Jayate". 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.
Mission chronology
India launched the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft using a modified version of the PSLV C11 on 22 October 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 06:22 IST (00:52 UTC).
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. After separation, it first fired its spin up rockets and then its retro rocket to lower itself to an orbit intersecting the lunar surface. 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 struck 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). The planned impact terminated the MIP. The MIP crashed into Shackleton Crater, at 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.
Photographs
See also
Chandrayaan-1
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