Chandrayaan 3- How India's Moon Mission Got Its Name

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Today, we're going to dive deep into the fascinating story behind India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission and how it got its name.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's quickly refresh our memory about Chandrayaan-3. It's India's third mission to the moon, aiming to further explore our lunar neighbor. The previous Chandrayaan missions have paved the way for future discoveries and advancements in space exploration.

Now, let's uncover the origin of the name "Chandrayaan-3." The word "Chandrayaan" has its roots in Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world. "Chandra" means "moon," and "Yaan" stands for "vehicle." So, Chandrayaan translates to "moon vehicle" or "moon craft." Rooted in Hinduism, this is the language in which many components of the Chandrayaan-3 mission are named.

Why did they choose this name?

Well, the moon has always fascinated mankind. It mesmerizes us with its beauty, and it holds countless secrets and mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Naming the mission Chandrayaan reflects our eternal curiosity about the moon and our relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Pragyan, the six-wheeled rover now trudging along on the moon with the goal of analyzing lunar soil, is Sanskrit for "wisdom." While Chandrayaan-3's lander, Vikram, is also a Sanskrit name (meaning "valor") it most notably honors the late Vikram Sarabhai.

Let's take a moment to recognize the brilliant mind behind Chandrayaan-3, none other than Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. He is often regarded as the father of India's space program, and his vision and dedication laid the foundation for India's space exploration journey.

Dr. Sarabhai once famously said, "There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose." His words perfectly capture the essence of Chandrayaan-3 –a mission driven by determination, curiosity, and the desire to push the boundaries of exploration.

Also named in Sanskrit is the liquid-fueled rocket engine, Vikas (meaning "progress"), which was used to power the core stage of the three-stage rocket that ferried the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into orbit in July. Vikas is also widely considered to be a portmanteau of Sarabhai's full name — Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai.

ISRO has historically leaned toward naming its spacecraft in the ancient language!

IRSO's first Mars orbiter mission, Mangalyaan, launched in 2013 and was successful in studying the Martian surface and atmosphere from orbit. This week, India will be launching its first mission to study the sun: Aditya-L1 (Sanskrit for "sun"). This probe is expected to lift off on Sept. 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India's east coast. India’s Aditya-L1 sun-studying spacecraft, built at the U R Rao Satellite Centre, has arrived at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre ahead of a planned launch in early September 2023.

Coming back to the present day, Chandrayaan-3 is an ambitious project that will continue to build on the success of its predecessors. It aims to deepen our understanding of the moon's geology, study its mineral composition, and search for important resources that could potentially be used in future space missions.

It's important to mention the dedicated scientists, engineers, and the entire team working tirelessly behind the scenes to make Chandrayaan-3 a reality. Their hard work and determination truly embody the spirit of human exploration.

So, the next time you gaze up at the moon, remember that Chandrayaan-3, the moon vehicle named after our thirst for knowledge, is inching closer to unveiling the moon's secrets. It's yet another chapter in our incredible journey of scientific discovery.