India's Moon mission will be tracked by the European Space Agency after Chandrayaan-3 launches today.

 According to the European Space Agency (ESA), constructing new colossal antennas and control stations worldwide entails significant expenses. Therefore, in line with numerous space agencies and commercial enterprises globally, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will rely on the support of partner organizations' stations instead. This approach not only results in substantial cost reduction but also promotes international cooperation in space exploration, as stated by ESA.

Chennai, July 14: The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced its commitment to track and monitor the progress and condition of India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft through its various centers. Furthermore, ESA will provide support for upcoming missions, including India's next interplanetary endeavor, the Sun Mission- Aditya L1, which is scheduled for launch in late August 2023.

In addition, ongoing discussions between ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are focused on securing tracking assistance for Gaganyaan, India's maiden human space mission. The ESA emphasized the significance of communication in deep space missions, highlighting how ground stations on Earth play a vital role in keeping operators connected to spacecraft as they venture into the uncertainties and challenges of space.

The ESA emphasized that ground station support is indispensable for obtaining crucial data from a spacecraft, assessing its condition, ensuring its safety, and determining its location. ISRO currently operates a 32-meter deep space tracking station in India, which enables the organization to locate, track, command, and receive telemetry and scientific data from its distant spacecraft. However, there are instances when ISRO's operators need to track or command a spacecraft that is beyond the coverage area of this particular antenna.

ESA stated that the construction of new massive antennas and control stations worldwide comes with a high price tag. To tackle this issue, ISRO, like numerous space agencies and commercial entities globally, will seek assistance from partner organizations' stations. This approach not only leads to substantial cost reduction but also cultivates collaboration in international spaceflight endeavors, as per ESA.

Utilizing its extensive worldwide network of deep space stations known as the "Estrack," the European Space Agency (ESA) is capable of aiding its partners in tracking, commanding, and receiving spacecraft data from virtually any location within the Solar System. This is made possible through the ESOC mission control center located in Darmstadt, Germany. As ISRO prepares for the launch of Chandrayaan-3 today, with the objective of achieving a flawless soft landing on the lunar surface, here are the details you need to know, including the launch time, live streaming options, and other pertinent information about India's third moon mission.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced its involvement in tracking and supporting the Chandrayaan-3 mission conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ESA's 15-meter antenna in Kourou, French Guiana, will be employed to monitor Chandrayaan-3 immediately after its launch, ensuring the spacecraft's survival and well-being as it embarks on its journey to the Moon.

As the spacecraft moves away from Earth, tracking support will be coordinated by ESA through the 32-meter antenna operated by Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd in the UK. Goonhilly will provide assistance to Chandrayaan-3's propulsion and lander modules, playing a crucial role in supporting the lander during the lunar surface operations phase. This support is vital for the safe transmission of scientific data acquired by the rover back to ISRO in India. The data and telemetry received through Kourou and Goonhilly will be first forwarded to ESOC (ESA's European Space Operations Centre) and subsequently sent to ISRO for analysis.

To ensure continuous monitoring of the pioneering Moon craft, the two European stations will complement the support provided by NASA's Deep Space Network and ISRO's own stations, as stated by ESA.

In addition to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, ESA will also provide support for ISRO's Aditya-L1 solar observatory. This support will include tracking activities from Kourou and Goonhilly, along with assistance from ESA's three 35-meter deep space antennas located in New Norcia, Australia, Malargue, Argentina, and Cebreros, Spain. These stations are regularly utilized by ESA to communicate with its fleet of Solar System explorers and space observatories.

ESA's involvement in the Aditya-L1 mission extends beyond tracking activities. The agency's Flight Dynamics experts have contributed to the validation of the "orbit determination" software that ISRO will utilize for the mission. This software plays a vital role in accurately calculating the spacecraft's position for communication and calibration of its scientific instruments.

Furthermore, discussions are underway regarding potential ESA ground station support for Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight program, according to ESA.