ESA’s New Norcia antenna, located in Western Australia, had the opportunity to observe a rare celestial event known as the ‘super blue Moon.’ This event occurs when the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth in its orbit, coinciding with a calendar blue Moon.
While the New Norcia antenna was focused on the super blue Moon, it was also providing support for India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission. Chandrayaan-3 is an important mission for India as it aims to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface. ESA plays a crucial role in the mission by providing ground station support.
During the super blue Moon event on August 30, the New Norcia antenna initiated a data exchange session with the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as the Moon’s brightness and location in the sky allowed it to be visible in the New Norcia webcam for the majority of the communication window.
In a stroke of luck, ESA was able to capture stunning images of the antenna chasing the super blue Moon and the Chandrayaan-3 Lander as they traversed the Australian sky. This rare occurrence provided a unique and breathtaking view.
At the time of the image capture, Chandrayaan-3’s surface operations had reached their halfway mark. The rover had been put into sleep mode on September 3, with hopes of its survival into the next lunar day. This is an exceptional event that happens only once in a blue Moon.
The successful observation and support provided by the New Norcia antenna for both the super blue Moon event and the Chandrayaan-3 mission demonstrate the capability and importance of ESA’s ground station network. These groundbreaking endeavours pave the way for further exploration and discovery in the realm of space.
As we continue to marvel at the wonders of the universe, events like the super blue Moon remind us of the beauty and complexity that lie beyond our world. The collaboration between ESA and India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission exemplifies the international cooperation and dedication required to unlock the mysteries of space.
