The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been honored with the prestigious Aviation Week Laureates Award for its remarkable achievements in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador at the Indian Embassy in the US, accepted the award on behalf of ISRO.
About Aviation Week Laureates Award:
- The Aviation Week Network’s Laureate Awards are highly esteemed accolades in the aviation and aerospace industry.
- These awards celebrate exceptional accomplishments that embody the spirit of exploration, innovation, and vision.
- The ceremony, attended by over 400 industry professionals and influencers, recognizes groundbreaking achievements.
- ISRO’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission exemplifies the Laureate’s tradition of honoring outstanding contributions to aerospace exploration.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
Operational Duration: Both Vikram and Pragyan are designed to operate for one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.
Launch and Craft Details: Launched on July 14, 2023, from Sriharikota using GSLV-Mark III (LVM-3) heavy-lift rocket. The spacecraft consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, omitting an orbiter this time.
Mission Objectives: Demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, rover exploration, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments.
Budget: Estimated at Rs 615 crore.
Lander and Rover Specifications: Vikram, standing at 2 meters tall and weighing over 1,700 kg, carries a 26-kg lunar rover named Pragyan. Pragyan will conduct spectrometer analysis of the lunar surface’s mineral composition.
Landing and Deployment: Scheduled for August 23, 2023, the lander will touch down on the moon and deploy the rover.
