| M3 and India's First Mission to the Moon |
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The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) is one of two instruments contributed by NASA to India's first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1. M3, a state-of-the-art imaging spectrometer, has provided the first mineralogical map of the lunar surface at high spatial and spectral resolution. By analyzing the data, scientists are determining the composition of the surface of the Moon.
Scientists will use this information to answer questions about the moon's origin and geologic evolution, as well as the evolution of terrestrial planets in the early solar system’s history. Future lunar exploration will use data from M3 to locate resources, including water, that can support exploration of the Moon and beyond.
Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first mission to the Moon. The spacecraft carried five instruments and a probe that were built in India and six instruments contributed by foreign partners. "Chandrayaan" was derived from two ancient Sanskrit words, Chandra, meaning moon, and yaan, which may be translated as voyage or craft.
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Instrument
Type: Imaging Spectrometer
Wavelength: 0.43 to 3.0 microns
Weight: 8.3 kg
Field of View: 24 degrees, providing a 40 km swath from 100 km altitude
Imaging Modes:
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Global: 140 m spatial, 20-40 nm spectral |
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Target: 70 m spatial, 10 nm spectral |
Lunar Map: Over 97% of the lunar surface mapped in Global mode
Mission
Spacecraft: Chandrayaan-1, India
Lifetime: October 22, 2008 to August 30, 2009
Launch Vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, India
Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
Lunar Orbit: 100 and 200 km, polar
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