Chandrayaan 1 facts for kids

Chandrayaan 1 was India's very first spacecraft sent to explore the Moon! It launched on October 22, 2008. This important mission was managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Chandrayaan 1 carried special tools, including NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper.

Chandrayaan 1: India's First Moon Mission

Chandrayaan 1 was a special space mission. Its main goal was to study the Moon up close. It was India's first time sending a spacecraft to orbit the Moon. This showed the world India's growing skills in space exploration.

The Mission's Journey

The Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft lifted off on October 22, 2008. It was controlled by the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO. The mission was planned to last for two years. However, it actually worked for 312 days. During this time, it orbited the Moon many times.

The spacecraft mapped almost all of the Moon's surface. This means it took detailed pictures and measurements. On August 29, 2009, scientists lost contact with Chandrayaan 1. This meant the mission had come to an end.

Amazing Discoveries

Even though the mission ended sooner than planned, Chandrayaan 1 made a huge discovery. It found signs of water on the Moon! This was a very exciting find for scientists. It changed what we knew about our closest neighbor in space. This discovery helps us understand the Moon better. It also helps us think about future space missions.

Images for kids

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  Moon Mineralogy Mapper (left)

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  SIR-2 Logo

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  Direct evidence of lunar water through Chandrayaan-1 Chandra's Altitudinal Composition (CHACE) output profile

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  These images show a very young lunar crater on the side of the Moon that faces away from Earth, as viewed by Chandrayaan-1's NASA Moon Mineralogy Mapper equipment

See also

In Spanish: Chandrayaan-1 para niños