Chandrayaan-1

Former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, announced the Chandrayaan 1 project{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/29-dec-2003/2003-eventful-year-isro|title=2003 – An Eventful Year for ISRO |website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=24 July 2019|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724181521/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/29-dec-2003/2003-eventful-year-isro|url-status=dead}} The mission was a major boost to India's space program.{{cite news |first=Pallava |last=Bagla |title=India Moon mission is 'mixed success' |date=31 August 2009 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8230230. |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205023507/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8230230.stm |url-status=live }} The idea of an Indian scientific mission to the Moon was first raised in 1999 during a meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences. The Astronautical Society of India (ASI) began planning the implementation of such an idea in 2000. Soon after, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set up the National Lunar Mission Task Force. The Task Force decided that the ISRO had the technical expertise to carry out an Indian mission to the Moon. In April 2003, over 100 Indian scientists spanning fields from planetary science, space sciences, Earth sciences, physics, chemistry, astronomy, astrophysics, engineering, and communication sciences discussed and approved the Task Force recommendation to launch an Indian probe to the Moon. Six months later, in November, the Vajpayee government formally approved the mission.{{Cite web |url=http://shiksha.isro.gov.in/pdf/books/1.pdf |title=Chandrayaan-1: India's first scientific mission to the Moon |access-date=17 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802062110/http://shiksha.isro.gov.in/pdf/books/1.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}

The mission had the following objectives:{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/objective_scientific.htm |title=Objectives |access-date=22 October 2008 |publisher=ISRO |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026041754/http://www.isro.org/Chandrayaan/htmls/objective_scientific.htm |archive-date=26 October 2008 }}

• To design, develop, launch, and orbit a spacecraft around the Moon using an Indian-made launch vehicle
• To conduct scientific experiments using instruments on the spacecraft which would yield data:
• for the preparation of a three-dimensional atlas (with high spatial and altitude resolution of {{convert|5|-|10|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) of both the near and far sides of the Moon
• for chemical and mineralogical mapping of the entire lunar surface at a high spatial resolution, mapping particularly the chemical elements magnesium, aluminum, silicon, calcium, iron, titanium, radon, uranium, and thorium
• To increase scientific knowledge
• To test the impact of a sub-satellite (Moon Impact Probe – MIP) on the surface of the Moon as a forerunner for future soft-landing missions

To reach its objective, the mission defined these goals:

• High-resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging of the permanently shadowed north- and south-polar regions
• To search for surface or subsurface lunar water ice, especially at the lunar poles
• Identification of chemicals in lunar highland rocks
• Chemical stratigraphy of the lunar crust by remote sensing of the central uplands of large lunar craters, and of the South Pole Aitken Region (SPAR), an expected site of interior material
• Mapping the height variation of features of the lunar surface
• Observation of X-ray spectrum greater than 10 keV and stereographic coverage of most of the Moon's surface with {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} resolution

File:Chandrayaan-1.svg

;Mass

:{{convert|1380|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} at launch, {{convert|675|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} at lunar orbit,{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/spacecraft_description.htm |title=Specifications of Chandrayaan 1 |access-date=22 October 2008 |date=October 2008 |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023064658/http://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/spacecraft_description.htm |archive-date=23 October 2008 }} and {{convert|523|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} after releasing the impactor.

;Dimensions

:Cuboid in shape of approximately {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}

;Communications

: X band, {{convert|0.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} diameter dual gimballed parabolic antenna for payload data transmission. The Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TTC) communication operated in S band frequency.

;Power

:The spacecraft was mainly powered by its solar array, which included one solar panel covering a total area of {{convert|2.15|xx|1.8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} generating 750 W of peak power, which was stored in a 36 Ampere-hour(A·h) lithium-ion battery for use during eclipses.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/faqs.htm |title=FAQ on Chandrayaan 1 |access-date=22 October 2008 |date=October 2008 |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107230056/http://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/faqs.htm |archive-date=7 November 2008 }}

;Propulsion

:The spacecraft used a bipropellant integrated propulsion system to reach lunar orbit as well as orbit and altitude maintenance while orbiting the Moon. The power plant consisted of one 440 Newton(N) engine and eight 22 N thrusters. Fuel and oxidizer were stored in two tanks of {{convert|390|L|USgal|sp=us}} each.

;Navigation and control

:The craft was 3-axis stabilized with two star sensors, gyros, and four reaction wheels. The spacecraft carried dual redundant bus management units for attitude control, sensor processing, antenna orientation, etc.

The scientific payload had a mass of {{convert|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. The payload contained five Indian instruments and six instruments from other countries.

• TMC or the Terrain Mapping Camera was a CMOS camera with {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} resolution and a {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} swath in the panchromatic band and was used to produce a high-resolution map of the Moon.{{cite journal |title=Terrain mapping camera for Chandrayaan-1 |url=http://www.ias.ac.in/jessci/dec2005/ilc-16.pdf |doi=10.1007/BF02715955 |author1=A. S. Kiran Kumar |author2=A. Roy Chowdhury |journal=J. Earth Syst. Sci. |volume=114 |issue=6 |year=2005 |pages=717–720 |bibcode=2005JESS..114..717K |s2cid=189885169 |doi-access=free |access-date=27 October 2006 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103224826/https://www.ias.ac.in/jessci/dec2005/ilc-16.pdf |url-status=live }} This instrument aimed to completely map the topography of the Moon. The camera works in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum and captures black-and-white stereo images. When used in conjunction with data from the Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI), it can help in a better understanding of the lunar gravitational field as well. TMC was built by the ISRO's Space Applications Centre (SAC) at Ahmedabad.{{cite web |url=http://isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/psexperiments.htm |access-date=15 March 2012 |title=Chandrayaan 1 – The payloads |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402130343/http://isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/psexperiments.htm |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} The TMC was tested on 29 October 2008 through a set of commands issued from ISTRAC.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct31_2008 |title=Chandrayaan-1 Camera Tested |access-date=1 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827075801/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct31_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}
• HySI or Hyper Spectral Imager is a CMOS camera, that performs mineralogical mapping in the 400–900 nm band with a spectral resolution of 15 nm and a spatial resolution of {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
• LLRI or Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument determines the height of the surface topography by sending pulses of infrared laser light toward the lunar surface and detecting the reflected portion of that light. It operated continuously and collected 10 measurements per second on both the day and night sides of the Moon. LLRI was developed by the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems of ISRO, Bangalore.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov16_2008 |title=LASER Instrument on Chandrayaan-1 Successfully Turned ON |access-date=17 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827091133/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov16_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }} It was tested on 16 November 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111759491100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207025914/http://hindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111759491100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2009 |title=Laser instrument on board Chandrayaan-1 activated |date=17 November 2008 |access-date=17 November 2008 |work=The Hindu}}
• HEX is a High Energy aj/gamma x-ray spectrometer for 30–200 keV measurements with a ground resolution of {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}}, the HEX measured Uranium, Thorium, Lead-210, Radon-222 degassing, and other radioactive elements.
• MIP or the Moon Impact Probe developed by the ISRO is an impact probe that consists of a C-band Radar altimeter for measurement of the altitude of the probe, a video imaging system for acquiring images of the lunar surface, and a mass spectrometer for measuring the constituents of the lunar atmosphere.{{cite web |url=http://isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/psexperiments.htm |title=Chandrayaan-1: The Payloads |access-date=15 March 2012 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402130343/http://isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan/htmls/psexperiments.htm |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} It was ejected at 14:30 UTC on 14 November 2008. As planned, the Moon Impact Probe impacted the lunar south pole at 15:01 UTC on 14 November 2008. ISRO was the fifth national space agency to reach the surface of the Moon. Other national space agencies to have done so prior were the former Soviet Union in 1959, the United States in 1962, Japan in 1993, and ESA in 2006.

File:Moon Mineralogy Mapper left.jpg

File:SIR-2 Logo.jpgThese international contributions were vital to the mission’s success and overall achievements of Chandrayaan 1.

• C1XS or X-ray fluorescence spectrometer covering 1–10 keV, mapped the abundance of Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Calcium, Titanium, and Iron at the surface with a ground resolution of {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and monitored solar flux.{{cite web |title=The Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer: C1XS |url=http://www.sstd.rl.ac.uk/c1xs/ |publisher=Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |access-date=21 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716170123/http://www.sstd.rl.ac.uk/c1xs/ |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} This payload results from the collaboration between the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, United Kingdom, European Space Agency (ESA) and ISRO. It was activated on 23 November 2008.{{cite news |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081124131241.htm |title=Chandrayaan-1 Starts Observations of the Moon |date=24 November 2008 |access-date=26 November 2008 |publisher=Space Daily}}
• SARA, the Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyser from the ESA mapped mineral composition using low energy neutral atoms emitted from the surface.{{cite journal |last1=Bhardwaj |first1=Anil |last2=Barabash |first2=Stas |last3=Futaana |first3=Yoshifumi |last4=Kazama |first4=Yoichi |last5=Asamura |first5=Kazushi |last6=McCann |first6=David |last7=Sridharan |first7=R. |last8=Holmstrom |first8=Mats |last9=Wurz |first9=Peter |last10=Lundin |first10=Rickard |title=Low energy neutral atom imaging on the Moon with the SARA instrument aboard Chandrayaan-1 mission |url=http://www.ias.ac.in/jessci/dec2005/ilc-21.pdf |journal=Journal of Earth System Science |date=December 2005 |volume=114 |issue=6 |pages=749–760 |doi=10.1007/BF02715960 |bibcode=2005JESS..114..749B |s2cid=55554166 |doi-access=free |access-date=2 November 2006 |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423110307/https://www.ias.ac.in/jessci/dec2005/ilc-21.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/sara_esa.htm |title=Sub keV Atom Reflecting Analyser (SARA) |access-date=3 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022234759/http://www.isro.org/Chandrayaan/htmls/sara_esa.htm |archive-date=22 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• M³, the Moon Mineralogy Mapper from Brown University and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL, funded by NASA) was an imaging spectrometer designed to map the surface mineral composition. It was activated on 17 December 2008.{{cite web |url=http://jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-239 |title=NASA Instrument Inaugurates 3-D Moon Imaging |access-date=19 December 2008 |publisher=JPL |archive-date=1 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101015823/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-239 |url-status=dead }}
• SIR-2, a near-infrared spectrometer from ESA, was built at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, and University of Bergen. SIR-2 mapped the mineral composition using an infrared grating spectrometer. The instrument is similar to that of the Smart-1 SIR.{{cite journal |title=Scientific objectives and selection of targets for the SMART-2 Infrared Spectrometer (SIR) |author1=Basilevsky A. T. |author2=Keller H. U. |author3=Nathues A. |author4=Mall J. |author5=Hiesinger H. |author6=Rosiek M. |journal=Planetary |author7=Space Science |volume=52 |issue=14 |pages=1261–1285 |year=2004 |doi=10.1016/j.pss.2004.09.002 |bibcode=2004P&SS...52.1261B}}{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/sir-2_esa.htm |title=Near-IR Spectrometer (SIR-2) |access-date=3 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022234804/http://www.isro.org/Chandrayaan/htmls/sir-2_esa.htm |archive-date=22 October 2008 |url-status=dead }} It was activated on 19 November 2008 and scientific observations were started on 20 November 2008.
• Mini-SAR, designed, built, and tested for NASA by a large team that includes the Naval Air Warfare Center, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman, with outer support from ISRO. Mini-SAR is the active Synthetic Aperture Radar system to search for lunar polar ice and water ice. The instrument transmitted right polarised radiation with a frequency of 2.5 GHz and monitored scattered left and right polarised radiation. The Fresnel reflectivity and the circular polarisation ratio (CPR) are the key parameters deduced from these measurements. Ice shows the Coherent Backscatter Opposition Effect, which results in an enhancement of reflections and CPR so that the water content of the Moon's polar regions can be estimated.{{cite journal |title=mini-SAR: An Imaging Radar for the Chandrayaan 1 Mission to the Moon |author1=P. D. Spudis |author2=B. Bussey |author3=C. Lichtenberg |author4=B. Marinelli |author5=S. Nozette |year=2005 |journal=Lunar and Planetary Science |volume=26 |page=1153}}{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/minisar_nasa.htm |title=Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini-SAR) |access-date=3 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106132830/http://www.isro.org/Chandrayaan/htmls/minisar_nasa.htm |archive-date=6 November 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/news/radar_tandem_searches.html |title=Nasa Radar Tandem Searches For Ice on the Moon |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-date=5 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405012806/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/news/radar_tandem_searches.html |url-status=live }}
• RADOM-7, Radiation Dose Monitor Experiment from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences mapped the radiation environment around the Moon.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/radom_bas.htm |title=Radiation Dose Monitor Experiment (RADOM ) |access-date=3 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119044239/http://www.isro.org/chandrayaan/htmls/radom_bas.htm |archive-date=19 January 2012 }} It was tested on 16 November 2008.

File:PSLV-C11 launch2.jpg

During the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chandrayaan project got a boost and finally Chandrayaan-1 was launched on 22 October 2008 at 00:52 UTC from Satish Dhawan Space Centre using the ISRO's {{convert|44.4|m|ft|adj=on}} tall, four-stage PSLV C11 launch vehicle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/chandrayaan-1|title=Chandrayaan-1 – ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=23 August 2019|archive-date=8 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708043347/https://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/chandrayaan-1|url-status=dead}} Chandrayaan-1 was sent to the Moon in a series of orbit-increasing manoeuvres around the Earth over a period of 21 days as opposed to launching the craft on a direct trajectory to the Moon.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/seta/2008/10/30/stories/2008103050121400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101113151/http://www.hindu.com/seta/2008/10/30/stories/2008103050121400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2008 |title=How Chandrayaan-1 is raised to higher orbits |date=30 October 2008 |access-date=31 October 2008 |work=The Hindu}} At launch the spacecraft was inserted into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) with an apogee of {{convert|22860|km|mi|abbr=on}} and a perigee of {{convert|255|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The apogee was increased with a series of five orbit burns conducted over a period of 13 days after launch.

For the duration of the mission, ISRO's telemetry, tracking and command network (ISTRAC) at Peenya in Bangalore, tracked and controlled Chandrayaan-1.{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chandrayaani-successfully-put-into-earths-orbit/376522/ |title=Chandrayaan-1 successfully put into earth's orbit |date=22 October 2008 |access-date=22 October 2008 |work=Indian express |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114217/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/chandrayaan-i-successfully-put-into-earths-orbit/ |url-status=live }} Scientists from India, Europe, and the U.S. conducted a high-level review of Chandrayaan-1 on 29 January 2009 after the spacecraft completed its first 100 days in space.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/100-days-of-Chandrayaan-1-launch/articleshow/4012996.cms |title=100 days of Chandrayaan-1 launch |work=The Times of India |agency=Times News Network |date=22 January 2009 |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114205/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/100-days-of-Chandrayaan-1-launch/articleshow/4012996.cms |url-status=live }}

;First orbit burn

The first orbit-raising manoeuvre of the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was performed at 03:30 UTC on 23 October 2008 when the spacecraft's 440 Newton liquid engine was fired for about 18 minutes by commanding the spacecraft from Spacecraft Control Centre (SCC) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC). With this Chandrayaan-1's apogee was raised to {{convert|37900|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and its perigee to {{convert|305|km|mi|abbr=on}}. In this orbit, the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft took about 11 hours to go around the Earth once.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/23-oct-2008/chandrayaan-1-spacecrafts-orbit-raised |title=Chandrayaan-1 Spacecraft's Orbit Raised |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-date=9 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809092154/http://www.isro.gov.in/update/23-oct-2008/chandrayaan-1-spacecrafts-orbit-raised |url-status=dead }}

;Second orbit burn

The second orbit-raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was carried out on 25 October 2008 at 00:18 UTC when the spacecraft's engine was fired for about 16 minutes, raising its apogee to {{convert|74715|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and its perigee to {{convert|336|km|mi|abbr=on}}, completing 20 percent of its journey. In this orbit, Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft took about twenty-five and a half hours to go round the Earth once. This was the first time an Indian spacecraft went beyond the {{convert|36000|km|mi|abbr=on}} high geostationary orbit and reached an altitude more than twice that height.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct25a_2008 |title=Chandrayaan-1 Spacecraft's Orbit Raised Further |access-date=30 October 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827095016/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct25a_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}

;Third orbit burn

The third orbit raising manoeuvre was initiated on 26 October 2008 at 01:38 UTC when the spacecraft's engine was fired for about nine and a half minutes. With this its apogee was raised to {{convert|164600|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and the perigee to {{convert|348|km|mi|abbr=on}}. In this orbit, Chandrayaan-1 took about 73 hours to go around the Earth once.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct26_2008 |title=Chandrayaan-1 enters Deep Space |access-date=30 October 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827080951/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct26_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}

;Fourth orbit burn

The fourth orbit-raising maneuver took place on 29 October 2008 at 02:08 UTC when the spacecraft's engine was fired for about three minutes, raising its apogee to {{convert|267000|km|mi|abbr=on}} and the perigee to {{convert|465|km|mi|abbr=on}}. This extended its orbit to a distance more than half the way to the Moon. In this orbit, the spacecraft took about six days to go around the Earth once.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct29_2008 |title=Chandrayaan-1's orbit closer to Moon |access-date=30 October 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827072516/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Oct29_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}

;Final orbit burn

The fifth and final orbit raising manoeuvre was carried out on 3 November 2008 at 23:26 UTC when the spacecraft's engine was fired for about two and a half minutes resulting in Chandrayaan-1 entering the Lunar Transfer Trajectory with an apogee of about {{convert|380000|km|mi|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov04_2008 |title=Chandrayaan-1 enters Lunar Transfer Trajectory |access-date=4 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827090227/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov04_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}

Chandrayaan-1 completed the lunar orbit insertion operation on 8 November 2008 at 11:21 UTC. This manoeuvre involved firing of the liquid engine for 817 seconds (about thirteen and half minutes) when the spacecraft passed within {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the Moon. The satellite was placed in an elliptical orbit that passed over the polar regions of the Moon, with {{convert|7502|km|mi|abbr=on}} aposelene and {{convert|504|km|mi|abbr=on}} periselene. The orbital period was estimated to be around 11 hours. With the successful completion of this operation, India became the fifth nation to put a vehicle in lunar orbit.{{cite web|url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov08_2008|title=Chandrayaan-1 Successfully Enters Lunar Orbit|publisher=ISRO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630200638/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov08_2008|archive-date=30 June 2014|access-date=8 November 2008}}

;First orbit reduction

First Lunar Orbit Reduction Manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-1 was carried out on 9 November 2008 at 14:33 UTC. During this, the engine of the spacecraft was fired for about 57 seconds. This reduced the periselene to {{convert|200|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} while aposelene remained unchanged at 7,502 km. In this elliptical orbit, Chandrayaan-1 took about ten and a half hours to circle the Moon once.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov10_2008 |title=First Lunar Orbit Reduction Manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-1 Successfully Carried Out |access-date=10 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928065216/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov10_2008 |archive-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}

;Second orbit reduction

This manoeuvre was carried out on 10 November 2008 at 16:28 UTC, resulting in a steep decrease in Chandrayaan-1's aposelene to {{convert|255|km|mi|abbr=on}} and its periselene to {{convert|187|km|mi|abbr=on}}, During this manoeuvre, the engine was fired for about 866 seconds (about fourteen and a half minutes). Chandrayaan-1 took two hours and 16 minutes to go around the Moon once in this orbit.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111158200100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216101854/http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111158200100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2008 |title=Now, one step closer to Moon |access-date=10 November 2008 |work=The Hindu |date=11 November 2008}}

;Third orbit reduction

Third Lunar Orbit Reduction was carried out by firing the onboard engine for 31 seconds on 11 November 2008 at 13:00 UTC. This reduced the periselene to {{convert|101|km|mi|abbr=on}}, while the aposelene remained constant at 255 km. In this orbit Chandrayaan-1 took two hours and 9 minutes to go around the Moon once.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/12/stories/2008111261331200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216112804/http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/12/stories/2008111261331200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2008 |title=Chandrayaan's orbit further reduced |access-date=11 November 2008 |work=The Hindu |date=12 November 2008}}

;Final orbit

Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft was placed into a mission-specific lunar polar orbit of {{convert|100|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} above the lunar surface on 12 November 2008.{{cite web |author=Jonathan McDowell |url=http://host.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.603 |title=Jonathan's Space Report No. 603 |work=Jonathan's Space Report |date=15 November 2008 |access-date=16 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910024216/http://host.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.603 |archive-date=10 September 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov12_2008 |title=Chandrayaan-1 Successfully Reaches its Operational Lunar Orbit |access-date=12 November 2008 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827100002/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Nov12_2008 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }} In the final orbit reduction manoeuvre, Chandrayaan-1's aposelene and periselene were both reduced to 100 km. In this orbit, Chandrayaan-1 takes about two hours to go around the Moon once. Two of the 11 payloads—the Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC) and the Radiation Dose Monitor (RADOM)—were switched on. The TMC acquired images of both the Earth and the Moon.

The Moon Impact Probe (MIP) crash-landed on the lunar surface on 14 November 2008, 15:01 UTC near the crater Shackleton at the south pole. The MIP was one of eleven scientific instruments (payloads) on board Chandrayaan-1.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mission-Accomplished-India-fifth-in-world-to-reach-moon/articleshow/3714245.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022074629/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-15/india/27904216_1_lunar-surface-moon-impact-probe-chandrayaan |url-status=live |archive-date=22 October 2012 |title=Chandrayaan-I Impact Probe lands on the Moon |access-date=14 November 2008 |first1=Srinivas |last1=Laxman |work=The Times of India |date=15 November 2008}}

The MIP separated from Chandrayaan at 100 km from the lunar surface and began its nosedive at 14:36 UTC, going into free fall for thirty minutes. As it fell, it kept sending information back to the mother satellite which, in turn, beamed the information back to Earth. The altimeter then also began recording measurements to prepare for a rover to land on the lunar surface during a second Moon mission.{{cite news |url=http://www.ummid.com/news/2013/August/18.08.2013/india-moon-mission.html |title=India to go alone in second Moon mission |date=18 August 2013 |work=UMMID |access-date=15 September 2013 |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114207/https://ummid.com/news/2013/August/18.08.2013/india-moon-mission.html |url-status=live }}

Following the deployment of the MIP, the other scientific instruments were turned on, starting the next phase of the mission.

After scientific analyses of the received data from the MIP, the Indian Space Research Organisation confirmed the presence of water in the lunar soil and published the finding in a press conference addressed by its then Chairman G. Madhavan Nair.

ISRO had reported on 25 November 2008 that Chandrayaan-1's temperature had risen above normal to {{convert|50|C|F}},{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7748611.stm |title=India moon craft hit by heat rise |work=BBC News |first=Swaminathan |last=Natarajan |date=25 November 2008 |access-date=28 November 2008 |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114249/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7748611.stm |url-status=live }} Scientists said that it was caused by higher than expected temperatures in lunar orbit. The temperature was brought down by about {{convert|10|C-change|F-change}} by rotating the spacecraft about 20 degrees and switching off some of the instruments. Subsequently, ISRO reported on 27 November 2008 that the spacecraft was operating under normal temperature conditions.{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-27/ahmedabad/27935978_1_chandrayaan-payloads-lunar-surface |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080824/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-27/ahmedabad/27935978_1_chandrayaan-payloads-lunar-surface |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=All fine with Chandrayaan-1: ISRO chief |date=27 November 2008 |access-date=27 November 2008 |work=The Times of India}} In subsequent reports ISRO says, since the spacecraft was still recording higher than normal temperatures, it would be running only one instrument at a time until January 2009 when lunar orbital temperature conditions are said to stabilize.{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Chandrayaan-1_on_summer_break_till_Jan_/articleshow/3768291.cms |title=Chandrayaan-1 takes summer break till mid Jan |date=27 November 2008 |access-date=27 November 2008 |work=Economic Times |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114213/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/chandrayaan-1-takes-summer-break-till-mid-jan/articleshow/3768291.cms |url-status=live }} It was initially thought that the spacecraft was experiencing high temperature because of radiation from the Sun and infrared radiation reflected by the Moon.{{cite news |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16152-indian-moon-probe-feels-the-heat.html |title=Indian Moon probe feels the heat |date=27 November 2008 |access-date=27 November 2008 |publisher=New Scientist |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114212/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16152-indian-moon-probe-feels-the-heat/ |url-status=live }} However the rise in spacecraft temperature was later attributed to a batch of DC-DC converters with poor thermal regulation.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dr-m-annadurai-project-director-chandrayaan-1-chandrayaan-2-isro-moon-5805873/|title=Dr M Annadurai, Project director, Chandrayaan 1: 'Chandrayaan 2 logical extension of what we did in first mission'|date=29 June 2019|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=9 July 2019|archive-date=29 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629180634/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dr-m-annadurai-project-director-chandrayaan-1-chandrayaan-2-isro-moon-5805873/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/Celebrating-Indias-moon-moment/article15788241.ece|title=Celebrating India's moon moment|last=Bagla|first=Pallava|date=22 October 2010|work=The Hindu|access-date=9 July 2019|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=24 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824114837/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/Celebrating-Indias-moon-moment/article15788241.ece|url-status=live}}

The mineral content on the lunar surface was mapped with the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³), a NASA instrument on board the orbiter. The presence of iron was reiterated and changes in rock and mineral composition have been identified. The Oriental Basin region of the Moon was mapped, and it indicates abundance of iron-bearing minerals such as pyroxene.{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-26/india/27905873_1_moon-mineralogy-mapper-chandrayaan-1-carle-pieters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080837/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-26/india/27905873_1_moon-mineralogy-mapper-chandrayaan-1-carle-pieters |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Chandrayaan reveals changes in rock composition |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=12 January 2009 |work=The Times of India}}

In 2018 it was announced that M³ infrared data had been re-analyzed to confirm the existence of water across wide expanses of the Moon's polar regions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/science/ice-moon.html|title=Ice on the Surface of the Moon? Almost Certainly, New Research Shows|last=Fortin|first=Jacey|date=22 August 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=22 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822091635/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/science/ice-moon.html|url-status=live}}

ISRO announced in January 2009 the completion of the mapping of the Apollo Moon missions landing sites by the orbiter, using multiple payloads. Six of the sites have been mapped, including the landing sites of Apollo 15 and Apollo 17.{{cite web |title=Results from Chandrayaan 1 mission |url=http://isrohq.vssc.gov.in/isr0dem0v2/index.php/science/science-history/74-general/1005-chandrayaan-1mission |website=ISRO website |access-date=23 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023233203/http://isrohq.vssc.gov.in/isr0dem0v2/index.php/science/science-history/74-general/1005-chandrayaan-1mission |archive-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}

The craft completed 3,000 orbits acquiring 70,000 images of the lunar surface,{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907170920.htm |title=Chandrayaan sensor fails; craft's life may be reduced |access-date=17 July 2009 |work=The Hindu |date=17 July 2009 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106060808/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200907170920.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Jul17_2009 |title=Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft completes 3000 orbits around the Moon |access-date=18 July 2009 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827084622/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Jul17_2009 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/18/stories/2009071858970100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723080539/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/18/stories/2009071858970100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2009 |title=Chandrayaan falters as 'star sensors' fail |access-date=18 July 2009 |work=The Hindu |date=18 July 2009}} which is quite a record compared to the lunar flights of other nations. ISRO officials estimated that if more than 40,000 images have been transmitted by Chandrayaan's cameras in 75 days, it worked out to nearly 535 images being sent daily. They were first transmitted to Indian Deep Space Network at Byalalu near Bangalore, from where they were flashed to ISRO's Telemetry Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore.

Some of these images have a resolution of down to {{convert|5|m|ft}}, providing a sharp and clear picture of the Moon's surface, while many images sent by some of the other missions had a 100-metre resolution.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ufo-blogger.com/2009/01/indian-moon-mission-pictures-show.html|title=Indian Moon Mission Pictures Show Triangular Pyramid Anomaly – UFO Sighting 2019 {{pipe}} UFO News {{pipe}} UFO 2019 {{pipe}} Roswell UFO|access-date=29 November 2011|archive-date=30 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130063950/http://www.ufo-blogger.com/2009/01/indian-moon-mission-pictures-show.html|url-status=dead}} For comparison, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera has a 0.5 meter resolution.{{Cite web|url=http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/about|title=About | Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera|website=lroc.sese.asu.edu|access-date=10 May 2020|archive-date=10 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510080015/http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/about|url-status=live}}

On 26 November, the Terrain Mapping Camera, which was first activated on 29 October 2008, acquired images of peaks and craters. This came as a surprise to ISRO officials because the Moon consists mostly of craters.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Chandrayaan_beams_back_40000_images_in_75_days/rssarticleshow/3979496.cms |title=Chandrayaan beams back 40,000 images in 75 days |date=15 January 2009 |access-date=16 January 2009 |publisher=Times of India |first1=Srinivas |last1=Laxman |archive-date=12 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212123454/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Ahmedabad/Chandrayaan_beams_back_40000_images_in_75_days/rssarticleshow/3979496.cms |url-status=live }}

The X-ray signatures of aluminium, magnesium and silicon were picked up by the C1XS X-ray camera. The signals were picked up during a solar flare that caused an X-ray fluorescence phenomenon. The flare that caused the fluorescence was within the lowest C1XS sensitivity range.{{cite news |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Jan23_2009 |title=C1XS Catches First Glimpse of X-rays from the Moon |date=23 January 2009 |access-date=16 February 2009 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926155815/http://isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Jan23_2009 |archive-date=26 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/24/stories/2009012454901100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126225635/http://hindu.com/2009/01/24/stories/2009012454901100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2009 |title=Chandrayaan detects X-ray signals |date=24 January 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=25 January 2009 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.universetoday.com/24062/chandrayaan-1-instrument-detects-first-x-ray-signature-from-moon/ |title=Chandrayaan-1 Instrument Detects First X-ray Signature from Moon |date=23 January 2009 |access-date=25 January 2009 |publisher=Universe Today |archive-date=8 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608000126/http://www.universetoday.com/24062/chandrayaan-1-instrument-detects-first-x-ray-signature-from-moon/ |url-status=live }}

File:Looking Homeward (3003323872).jpg

On 25 March 2009 Chandrayaan beamed back its first images of the Earth in its entirety. These images were taken with the TMC. Previous imaging was done on only one part of the Earth. The new images show Asia, parts of Africa and Australia with India being in the centre.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Chandrayaanrsquos-first-image-of-Earth-in-its-entirety/article16613390.ece |title=Chandrayaan's first image of Earth in its entirety |work=The Hindu |first=Divya |last=Gandhi |date=11 April 2009 |access-date=12 March 2017 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730111234/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Chandrayaanrsquos-first-image-of-Earth-in-its-entirety/article16613390.ece |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.planetary.org/multimedia/space-images/earth/tmc11_L0L1_01654_3_Subsampled-2m_cropped.html |title=Image of Earth from Chandrayaan-1 |publisher=The Planetary Society |date=25 March 2009 |access-date=12 March 2017 |archive-date=13 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313130940/http://www.planetary.org/multimedia/space-images/earth/tmc11_L0L1_01654_3_Subsampled-2m_cropped.html |url-status=live }}

After the completion of all the major mission objectives, the orbit of Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, which had been at a height of {{convert|100|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the lunar surface since November 2008, was raised to {{convert|200|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. The orbit-raising manoeuvres were carried out between 03:30 and 04:30 UTC on 19 May 2009. The spacecraft at this higher altitude enabled further studies on orbit perturbations and gravitational field variation of the Moon and also enabled imaging of the lunar surface with a wider swath.{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?May20_2009 |title=The Orbit of Chandrayaan-1 Raised |access-date=21 May 2009 |publisher=ISRO |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817050543/http://www.isro.gov.in/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?May20_2009 |archive-date=17 August 2009 |url-status=dead }} It was later revealed that the true reason for the orbit change was that it was an attempt to keep the temperature of the probe down.[https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327253.500-moons-heat-hastened-indian-probes-demise.html "Moon's heat hastened Indian probe's demise"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512043334/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327253.500-moons-heat-hastened-indian-probes-demise.html |date=12 May 2015 }}, New Scientist, 12 September 2009, p. 5. It was "...assumed that the temperature [of the spacecraft subsystems] at 100 km above the Moon's surface would be around 75 degrees Celsius. However, it was more than 75 degrees and problems started to surface. We had to raise the orbit to 200 km."{{cite news |last=Pereira |first=Andrew |title=Chandrayaan-I was 'killed' by heat stroke |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-07/india/28066525_1_chandrayaan-1-lunar-surface-scientific-goals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080919/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-07/india/28066525_1_chandrayaan-1-lunar-surface-scientific-goals |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=13 March 2012 |newspaper=The Times of India |date=7 September 2009}}

The star tracker, a device used for pointing attitude determination (orientation), failed in orbit after nine months of operation. Afterward, the orientation of Chandrayaan was determined using a back-up procedure using a two-axis Sun sensor and taking a bearing from an Earth station. This was used to update three axis gyroscopes which enabled spacecraft operations. The second failure, detected on 16 May, was attributed to excessive radiation from the Sun.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/19/stories/2009071958920900.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722074303/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/19/stories/2009071958920900.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2009 |title=Chandrayaan's first sensor failed much earlier |access-date=19 July 2009 |work=The Hindu |date=19 July 2009}}

On 21 August 2009 Chandrayaan-1 along with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter attempted to perform a bistatic radar experiment using their Mini-SAR radars to detect the presence of water ice on the lunar surface.{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/news/tandem_search.html |title=NASA And ISRO Satellites Perform In Tandem To Search For Ice on the Moon |publisher=NASA |access-date=22 August 2009 |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228213937/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/news/tandem_search.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Aug21_2009 |title=ISRO-NASA Joint Experiment To Search for Water Ice on the Moon |date=21 August 2009 |publisher=ISRO |access-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901112837/http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Aug21_2009 |archive-date=1 September 2009 }} The attempt was a failure; it turned out the Chandrayaan-1 radar was not pointed at the Moon during the experiment.{{cite news |first=Nancy |last=Atkinson |title=Joint Experiment with Chandrayaan-1 and LRO Failed |date=11 September 2011 |url=http://www.universetoday.com/39811/anticipated-joint-experiment-with-chandrayaan-1-and-lro-failed/ |work=Universe Today |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228214029/https://www.universetoday.com/39811/anticipated-joint-experiment-with-chandrayaan-1-and-lro-failed/ |url-status=live }}

The Mini-SAR has imaged many of the permanently shadowed regions that exist at both poles of the Moon.{{cite news |title=NASA Radar Finds Ice Deposits at Moon's North Pole |date=March 2010 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/multimedia/feature_ice_like_deposits.html |work=NASA |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-date=21 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921013327/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Mini-RF/multimedia/feature_ice_like_deposits.html |url-status=live }} In March 2010, it was reported that the Mini-SAR on board the Chandrayaan-1 had discovered more than 40 permanently darkened craters near the Moon's north pole which are hypothesized to contain an estimated 600 million metric tonnes of water-ice.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8544635.stm "Ice deposits found at Moon's pole"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814221438/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8544635.stm |date=14 August 2017 }}, BBC News, 2 March 2010 The radar's high CPR is not uniquely diagnostic of either roughness or ice; the science team must take into account the environment of the occurrences of high CPR signal to interpret its cause. The ice must be relatively pure and at least a couple of meters thick to give this signature. The estimated amount of water ice potentially present is comparable to the amount estimated from the previous mission of Lunar Prospector's neutron data.

Although the results are consistent with recent findings of other NASA instruments onboard Chandrayaan-1 (the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (MP3) discovered water molecules in the Moon's polar regions, while water vapour was detected by NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS) this observation is not consistent with the presence of thick deposits of nearly pure water ice within a few meters of the lunar surface, but it does not rule out the presence of small (<~10cm), discrete pieces of ice mixed in with the regolith.{{cite journal |title=The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |date=13 January 2011 |first=C. D. Neish |last=D. B. J. Bussey |author2=P. Spudis |author3=W. Marshall |author4=B. J. Thomson |author5=G. W. Patterson |author6=L. M. Carter |volume=116 |issue=E01005 |pages=8 |quote=the Mini-RF instruments on ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) obtained S band (12.6 cm) synthetic aperture radar images of the impact site at 150 and 30 m resolution, respectively. These observations show that the floor of Cabeus has a circular polarization ratio (CPR) comparable to or less than the average of nearby terrain in the southern lunar highlands. Furthermore, <2% of the pixels in Cabeus crater have CPR values greater than unity. This observation is not consistent with presence of thick deposits of nearly pure water ice within a few meters of lunar surface, but it does not rule out the presence of small (<~10 cm), discrete pieces of ice mixed in with the regolith. |doi=10.1029/2010JE003647 |bibcode=2011JGRE..116.1005N |doi-access=}}

The mission was expected to operate for two years. However, around 20:00 UTC on 28 August 2009 communication with the spacecraft was suddenly lost. The probe had operated for 312 days. The craft had been expected to remain in orbit for approximately another 1000 days and to crash into the lunar surface in late 2012,[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-09-01/news/27634980_1_chandrayaan-1-chandrayaan-2-lunar-surface Chandrayaan-1 off radar, but will work for 1000 days] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130531/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-09-01/news/27634980_1_chandrayaan-1-chandrayaan-2-lunar-surface |date=6 October 2014 }}. The Economic Times 21 September 2009. although in 2016 it was found to still be in orbit.

A member of the science advisory board of Chandrayaan-1 said that it is difficult to ascertain reasons for the loss of contact.{{Cite web |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/st/headlines/ISRO-Loses-Chandrayaan-1_31940.html |title=ISRO Loses Chandrayaan-1 |access-date=1 September 2009 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716011220/http://www.satellitetoday.com/st/headlines/ISRO-Loses-Chandrayaan-1_31940.html |url-status=dead }} ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said that due to very high radiation, power-supply units controlling both the computer systems on board failed, snapping the communication connectivity.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090902100254/http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/31/stories/2009083157910100.htm Chandrayaan-1 mission terminated] The Hindu. 31 August 2009. However, information released later showed that the power supply supplied by MDI failed due to overheating.[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/10/stories/2010071052090100.htm Power supply glitch partially cripples Insat-4B] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713081005/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/07/10/stories/2010071052090100.htm |date=13 July 2010 }}, HinduBusiness Line, Retrieved 13 July 2010.

Although the mission was less than 10 months in duration, and less than half the intended two years in length,{{Cite web|url=http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Chandrayaan_1_Mission_Officially_Terminated/551-105927-547.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813213111/http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Chandrayaan_1_Mission_Officially_Terminated/551-105927-547.html|url-status=dead|title=Chandrayaan 1 Mission Terminated|archivedate=13 August 2011}} a review by scientists termed the mission successful, as it had completed 95% of its primary objectives.

Chandrayaan's NASA Instrument Moon Mineralogy Mapper has confirmed the magma ocean hypothesis, meaning that the Moon was once completely molten.{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Chandrayaan-confirms-moon-was-once-completely-molten-Scientist/articleshow/4963591.cms |title=Chandrayaan confirms Moon was once completely molten: Scientist |date=2 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |work=Economic Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906013609/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Chandrayaan-confirms-moon-was-once-completely-molten-Scientist/articleshow/4963591.cms |archive-date=6 September 2009 |url-status=dead }} The terrain mapping camera (TMC) on board Chandrayaan-1, besides producing more than 70,000 three dimensional images, has recorded images of the landing site of U.S. spacecraft Apollo 15.{{cite news |url=http://www.moondaily.com/reports/Scientist_Rubbishes_Apollo_15_Conspiracy_Theory_999.html |title=Scientist Rubbishes Apollo 15 Conspiracy Theory |date=4 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |publisher=Moondaily.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908010233/http://www.moondaily.com/reports/Scientist_Rubbishes_Apollo_15_Conspiracy_Theory_999.html |archive-date=8 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chandrayaan-sends-images-of-Apollo-15-landing/articleshow/4964829.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080929/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-02/india/28083351_1_chandrayaan-1-lunar-mission-lunar-reconnaissance-orbiter |url-status=live |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Chandrayaan sends images of Apollo 15 landing |date=2 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |work=The Times of India}}

The TMC and HySI payloads of ISRO have covered about 70% of the lunar surface, while M³ covered more than 95% of the same and SIR-2 has provided high-resolution spectral data on the mineralogy of the Moon.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Indian Space Research Organisation said interesting data on lunar polar areas was provided by Lunar Laser Ranging Instrument (LLRI) and High Energy X-ray Spectrometer (HEX) of ISRO as well as Miniature Synthetic Aperture Radar (Mini-SAR) of the US.{{Cite news |title=The findings of Chandrayan - 1 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=21 October 2008 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/the-findings-of-chandrayaan-1/story-e6JH3wGAAILD4OG6viWoQJ.html}}

The LLRI covered both the lunar poles and additional lunar regions of interest, HEX made about 200 orbits over the lunar poles and Mini-SAR provided complete coverage of both North and South Polar Regions of the Moon.

Another ESA payload – Chandrayaan-1 imaging X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) – detected more than two dozen weak solar flares during the mission duration. The Bulgarian payload called Radiation Dose Monitor (RADOM) was activated on the day of the launch itself and worked until the mission's end.

ISRO said scientists from India and participating agencies expressed satisfaction on the performance of Chandrayaan-1 mission as well as the high quality of data sent by the spacecraft.

They have started formulating science plans based on the data sets obtained from the mission. It is expected that in the next few months, interesting results about lunar topography, mineral and chemical contents of the Moon and related aspects are expected to be published.{{cite news |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Chandrayaan_Enables_Study_Interaction_Without_Magnetic_Field_999.html |title=Chandrayaan Enables Study Interaction Without Magnetic Field |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |publisher=SpaceDaily.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914001206/http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Chandrayaan_Enables_Study_Interaction_Without_Magnetic_Field_999.html |archive-date=14 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}

The Chandrayaan-1 payload has enabled scientists to study the interaction between the solar wind and a planetary body like the Moon without a magnetic field.{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_chandrayaan-enables-study-interaction-without-magnetic-field_1288577 |title=Chandrayaan enables study interaction without magnetic field |date=8 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |publisher=DNAIndia.com |archive-date=11 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911161301/http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_chandrayaan-enables-study-interaction-without-magnetic-field_1288577 |url-status=live }}

In its 10-month orbit around the Moon, Chandrayaan-1's X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) detected titanium, confirmed the presence of calcium, and gathered the most accurate measurements yet of magnesium, aluminium and iron on the lunar surface.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/19/stories/2009091958942000.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923175737/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/19/stories/2009091958942000.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 September 2009 |title=Solar flares shine light on Moon's minerals |date=19 September 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=26 September 2009 }}

File:Direct evidence of lunar water.jpgFile:Chandrayaan1 Spacecraft Discovery Moon Water.jpg

On 18 November 2008, the Moon Impact Probe was released from Chandrayaan-1 at a height of {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}}. During its 25 minute descent, Chandra's Altitudinal Composition Explorer (CHACE) recorded evidence of water in 650 mass spectra readings gathered during this time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2010/2430.html|title=Water on the Moon: Direct evidence from Chandrayaan-1's Moon Impact...|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-date=20 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920161640/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2010/2430.html|url-status=live}} On 24 September 2009 Science journal reported that the NASA Instrument Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³) on Chandrayaan-1 had detected water ice on the Moon.{{cite news |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;1178658v1 |title=Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H₂O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M³ on Chandrayaan-1 |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |publisher=Science Mag |archive-date=18 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118041025/http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;1178658v1 |url-status=live }} But, on 25 September 2009, ISRO announced that the MIP, another instrument on board Chandrayaan-1, had discovered water on the Moon just before impact and had discovered it 3 months before NASA's M³.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/mip-detected-water-on-moon-way-back-in-june-isro-chairman/article24854.ece |title=MIP detected water on Moon way back in June: ISRO Chairman |work=The Hindu |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=9 June 2013 |location=Bangalore |archive-date=25 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125193516/http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/mip-detected-water-on-moon-way-back-in-june-isro-chairman/article24854.ece |url-status=live }} The announcement of this discovery was not made until NASA confirmed it.{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/1292942/report-chandrayaan-first-discovered-water-on-moon-but |title=Chandrayaan first discovered water on Moon, but? |work=DNA |date=25 September 2009 |agency=DNA |access-date=9 June 2013 |location=Bangalore |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611141014/https://www.dnaindia.com/technology/report-chandrayaan-first-discovered-water-on-moon-but-1292942 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/sci-tech/did-india-beat-nasa-to-find-water-on-moon-9091 |title=Did India beat NASA to find water on Moon? |work=NDTV |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=9 June 2013 |author=Bagla, Pallav |location=Bangalore |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006180606/http://www.ndtv.com/article/sci-tech/did-india-beat-nasa-to-find-water-on-moon-9091 |url-status=live }}

M³ detected absorption features near 2.8–3.0 μm on the surface of the Moon. For silicate bodies, such features are typically attributed to hydroxyl- and/or water bearing materials. On the Moon, the feature is seen as a widely distributed absorption that appears strongest at cooler high latitudes and at several fresh feldspathic craters. The general lack of correlation of this feature in sunlit M³ data with neutron spectrometer H abundance data suggests that the formation and retention of OH and H₂O is an ongoing surficial process. OH/H₂O production processes may feed polar cold traps and make the lunar regolith a candidate source of volatiles for human exploration.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³), an imaging spectrometer, came to a premature end on 28 August 2009.{{cite web |title=Welcome To ISRO:: Press Release:: 29 August 2009 |url=http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Aug29_2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903104432/http://www.isro.org/pressrelease/scripts/pressreleasein.aspx?Aug29_2009 |archive-date=3 September 2012 }} 101004 isro.org M³ was aimed at providing the first mineral map of the entire lunar surface. M³ data were reanalyzed years later and revealed "the most definitive proof to date" of the presence of water in shaded regions of craters near the Moon's north and south poles.

Lunar scientists had discussed the possibility of water repositories for decades. They are now increasingly "confident that the decades-long debate is over" a report says. "The Moon, in fact, has water in all sorts of places; not just locked up in minerals, but scattered throughout the broken-up surface, and, potentially, in blocks or sheets of ice at depth." The results from the Chandrayaan mission are also "offering a wide array of watery signals."{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-09-23-moon-water_N.htm |title=It's not lunacy, probes find water in Moon dirt |date=23 September 2009 |access-date=26 September 2009 |publisher=USA Today |archive-date=27 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927052332/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-09-23-moon-water_N.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/23/stories/2009092357770100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926073133/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/23/stories/2009092357770100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 September 2009 |title=Water discovered on Moon?: "A lot of it actually" |date=23 September 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=26 September 2009 }}

{{Main|Lunar water}}

According to European Space Agency (ESA) scientists, the lunar regolith (a loose collection of irregular dust grains making up the Moon's surface) absorbs hydrogen nuclei from solar winds. Interaction between the hydrogen nuclei and oxygen present in the dust grains is expected to produce hydroxyl ({{chem2|HO-}}) and water ({{chem2|H2O}}).{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yt2nVk3xfOUC&pg=PA121 |title=India Space Programs and Exploration Handbook |date=August 2013 |publisher=International Business Publications, USA |isbn=9781433023149 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The SARA (Sub keV Atom Reflecting Analyser) instrument developed by ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation was designed and used to study the Moon's surface composition and solar-wind/surface interactions. SARA's results highlight a mystery: not every hydrogen nucleus is absorbed. One out of every five proton rebounds into space, combining with electron to form an atom of hydrogen.{{Cite web |title=How the Moon produces its own water |url=https://phys.org/news/2009-10-moon.html}} Hydrogen shoots off at speeds of around {{convert|200|km/s|mi/s}} and escapes without being deflected by the Moon's weak gravity. This knowledge provides timely advice for scientists who are readying ESA's BepiColombo mission to Mercury, as that spacecraft will carry two instruments similar to SARA.

Chandrayaan-1 imaged a lunar rille, formed by an ancient lunar lava flow, with an uncollapsed segment indicating the presence of a lunar lava tube, a type of large cave below the lunar surface.A. S. Arya, R. P. Rajasekhar, Guneshwar Thangjam, Ajai and A. S. Kiran Kumar, [http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/100/04/0524.pdf "Detection of potential site for future human habitability on the Moon using Chandrayaan-1 data"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730151705/http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/100/04/0524.pdf |date=30 July 2020 }}, [http://www.currentscience.ac.in/php/toc.php?vol=100&issue=04 Current Science, Vol. 100, NO. 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502163317/http://www.currentscience.ac.in/php/toc.php?vol=100&issue=04 |date=2 May 2019 }}, 25 February 2011 (accessed 24 January 2015) The tunnel, which was discovered near the lunar equator, is an empty volcanic tube, measuring about {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|360|m|ft|abbr=on}} in width. According to A. S. Arya, scientist SF of Ahmedabad-based Space Application Centre (SAC), this could be a potential site for human settlement on the Moon.{{Cite news |last=Nair |first=Avinash |date=2010-02-09 |title=Indian scientists discover a large cave on the Moon |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indian-scientists-discover-a-large-cave-on-the-moon/articleshow/5550011.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-10-25 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} Earlier, Japanese Lunar orbiter SELENE (Kaguya) also recorded evidence for other caves on the Moon.{{cite journal |journal=National Geographic |url=http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/25/scientists-may-have-spotted-buried-lava-tubes-on-the-moon/ |first=Nadia |last=Drake |author-link=Nadia Drake |title=Scientists May Have Spotted Buried Lava Tubes on the Moon |date=25 March 2016 |access-date=10 March 2017 |archive-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223104121/http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/25/scientists-may-have-spotted-buried-lava-tubes-on-the-moon/ |url-status=dead }}

Data from the microwave sensor (Mini-SAR) of Chandrayaan-1 processed using the image analysis software ENVI, has revealed a good amount of past tectonic activity on the lunar surface.{{cite journal |title=Moon shows Earth-like tectonic activity |journal=Nature India |date=25 April 2014 |last=Priyadarshini |first=Subhra |doi=10.1038/nindia.2014.57 |url=http://www.nature.com/nindia/2014/140425/full/nindia.2014.57.html |access-date=29 April 2014 |archive-date=29 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429235119/http://www.nature.com/nindia/2014/140425/full/nindia.2014.57.html |url-status=live }} The researchers think that the faults and fractures discovered could be features of past interior tectonic activity coupled with meteorite impacts.

• The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 mission as one of the recipients of its annual AIAA SPACE 2009 awards, which recognises key contributions to space science and technology.{{Cite web|url=https://www.domain-b.com/aero/aero_general/20090901_chandrayaan1.html|title=domain-b.com : American astronautics society award for Chandrayaan-1 team|website=www.domain-b.com|date=September 2009 |access-date=24 August 2023|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404183843/https://www.domain-b.com/aero/aero_general/20090901_chandrayaan1.html|url-status=live}}
• The International Lunar Exploration Working Group awarded the Chandrayaan-1 team the International Co-operation Award in 2008 for accommodation and tests of the most international lunar payload ever (from 20 countries, including India, the European Space Agency of 17 countries, US, and Bulgaria).{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081201/nation.htm#14 |title=Chandrayaan-1 wins global award |date=30 November 2008 |agency=Tribune News Service |access-date=2 February 2015 |author=Choudhury, Shubhadeep |location=Bangalore |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808030908/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081201/nation.htm#14 |url-status=live }}
• US-based National Space Society awarded ISRO the 2009 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category, for the Chandrayaan-1 mission.{{cite web |url=http://www.nss.org/awards/2009.html |title=NSS awards for 2009 |publisher=National Space Society |access-date=2 February 2015 |archive-date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202011649/http://www.nss.org/awards/2009.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/features/2010/lcross_award.html |title=NASA's Lunar Impact Mission Honored by National Space Society |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=2 February 2015 |author=Hoover, Rachel |archive-date=9 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109115404/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/features/2010/lcross_award.html |url-status=live }}

The scientists considered instrumental to the success of the Chandrayaan-1 project are:{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/moonmission/Election_Story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080069746 |title=The men behind the mission |date=22 October 2008 |access-date=31 October 2008 |publisher=NDTV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026232401/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/moonmission/Election_Story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080069746 |archive-date=26 October 2008 }}{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3598007.cms |title=Looking beyond Chandrayaan-1 |date=15 October 2008 |access-date=30 October 2008 |work=Economic Times |archive-date=13 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113200956/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3598007.cms |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.zeenews.com/chandrayaan/story.aspx?aid=477110 |title=The Chandrayaan Team |access-date=30 October 2008 |publisher=Zee News |archive-date=23 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023191151/http://www.zeenews.com/chandrayaan/story.aspx?aid=477110 |url-status=live }}

• G. Madhavan Nair – chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation
• T. K. Alex – Director, ISAC (ISRO Satellite Centre)
• Mylswamy Annadurai – Project Director, Chandrayan-1
• S. K. Shivkumar – Director – Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network
• M. Pitchaimani – Operations Director, Chandrayaan-1
• Leo Jackson John – Spacecraft Operations Manager, Chandrayaan-1
• K. Radhakrishnan – Director, VSSC
• George Koshy – Mission Director, PSLV-C11
• Srinivasa Hegde – Mission Director, Chandrayaan-1
• Jitendra Nath Goswami – Director of Physical Research Laboratory and Principal Scientific Investigator of Chandrayaan-1
• Madhavan Chandradathan – Head, Launch Authorization Board, Chandrayan-1{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081023/jsp/nation/story_10008285.jsp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141028143218/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081023/jsp/nation/story_10008285.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2014 |title=Launch authorization board |publisher=Telegraph India |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=28 October 2014}}

Data gathered by Chandrayaan-I was made available to the public by the end of the year 2010. The data was split into two sections with the first section going public by the end of 2010 and the second going public by the middle of 2011. The data contained pictures of the Moon and also data of chemical and mineral mapping of the lunar surface.{{cite news |url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Data_From_Chandrayaan_Moon_Mission_To_Go_Public_999.html |title=Data From Chandrayaan Moon Mission To Go Public |date=6 September 2010 |access-date=10 September 2010 |publisher=Space-Travel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909142705/http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Data_From_Chandrayaan_Moon_Mission_To_Go_Public_999.html |archive-date=9 September 2010 |url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Chandrayaan-2|Chandrayaan-3}}

Chandrayaan-2 is a follow-up mission which was launched on 22 July 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/22-jul-2019/gslv-mkiii-m1-successfully-launches-chandrayaan-2-spacecraft|title=GSLV MkIII-M1 Successfully Launches Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft – ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212123035/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/22-jul-2019/gslv-mkiii-m1-successfully-launches-chandrayaan-2-spacecraft|url-status=dead}} The mission includes a lunar orbiter, a lander named Vikram and a robotic lunar rover named Pragyan.{{Cite web |url=http://164.100.158.235/question/annex/241/Au1084.pdf |title=Question No. 1084: Deployment of Rover on Lunar Surface |publisher=Rajya Sabha |first1=T. |last1=Rathinavel |author1-link=T. Rathinavel |first2=Jitendra |last2=Singh |author2-link=Jitendra Singh (BJP politician) |date=24 November 2016 |access-date=2 August 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802142742/http://164.100.158.235/question/annex/241/Au1084.pdf |url-status=live }} While a last-minute glitch in the landing guidance software resulted in the lander crashing, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is operational {{As of|2023|September|alt=as of September 2023}}.{{cite news |last=Guptan |first=Mahesh |date=16 November 2019 |title=How did Chandrayaan 2 fail? ISRO finally has the answer |newspaper=The Week |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2019/11/16/how-did-chandrayaan-2-fail-isro-answer.html |access-date=3 January 2020 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219143203/https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2019/11/16/how-did-chandrayaan-2-fail-isro-answer.html |url-status=live }} A third mission, called Chandrayaan-3 was launched on 14 July 2023 and it successfully soft-landed on Moon on 23 August 2023{{cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3.html |access-date=14 July 2023 |website=www.isro.gov.in |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710170915/https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3.html |url-status=live }}

Chandrayaan's imagery will be used to identify regions of interest that will be explored in detail by the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The interest lies in identifying lunar water on the surface that can be exploited in setting up a future lunar outpost. The Mini-SAR, one of the U.S. payloads on Chandrayaan, was used to determine the presence of water ice.{{cite news |url=https://www.space.com/3296-moonbase-dark-lunar-ice.html |title=Moonbase: In the Dark on Lunar Ice |work=Space.com |first=Leonard |last=David |date=26 December 2006 |access-date=9 August 2017 |archive-date=9 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809130226/https://www.space.com/3296-moonbase-dark-lunar-ice.html |url-status=live }}

{{Portal|Spaceflight|Solar System|India}}

• Exploration of the Moon
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{{Commons category|Chandrayaan-1}}

• {{Official website|http://www.isro.gov.in/Spacecraft/chandrayaan-1}}
• {{cite book |url=http://www.isro.org/publications/pdf/Chandrayaan-1-booklet.pdf |title=Chandrayaan-1: India's First Mission to Moon |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |first1=Jayati |last1=Datta |first2=S. C. |last2=Chakravarty |date=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012220210/http://www.isro.org/publications/pdf/Chandrayaan-1-booklet.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2009}}

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