All stages of Chandrayaan-3 mission equally critical, we hope rover will have a life more than 14 Earth days: Isro chief | India News

With stage set for the launch of India’s Rs 615-crore Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission at 2.35 pm on Friday and Isro completing a 24-hour “launch rehearsal” simulating the entire launch process for the spacecraft sitting on board ‘fat boy’ LVM-3 rocket, Isro chairman Sreedhara Panicker Somanath speaks to TOI’s Surendra Singh on the critical operations of lander and rover, focus areas of the one-month-long mission and if Isro is also studying signs of extra-terrestrial life on the Moon besides learning about the lunar surface. Excerpts:

Q1. Besides studying the moon crust composition, thermal properties of the lunar surface and the dynamics of the Moon system, will Chandrayaan-3 also plan to study signs of extraterrestrial life on the Moon?

A: No life as we know of it is possible on the Moon. So, this is not in consideration now.

Q 2. What are the key focus areas during the entire Chandrayaan-3 journey from Earth to Moon where Isro will be extra vigilant?

A: We are vigilant throughout. All stages are equally critical, including the rocket launch. But more discussion and review took place on soft landing as we have not done before.

Q 3. Learning from Chandrayaan-2 mistakes, Isro made so many changes in the lander this time to withstand the wear and tear during the final descent, are you confident Vikram will have a safe landing?

A: Yes. Changes (made in the lander) are for overcoming the issues and to improve reliability and failure tolerance.

Q 4. Will the Pragyan rover have a life of more than 14 Earth days on the Moon surface?

A: Possible by our assessment. Will see after the first day and night (on Moon).

Q 5. If this moon landing mission is successful, will you then plan to bring lunar rocks and send astronauts?

A: Will see in the future if adequate science and commercial objectives can be identified.

Q 6.

Will Isro share key data that you will receive from the lander & rover with other space agencies and also put them in public domain?

Yes. After a certain lock-in period, as is done for all science missions world over.