Chandrayaan-1, the first Indian planetary exploration mission, will carry out high resolution remote sensing studies of the moon to further our understanding about its origin and evolution. Hyper-spectral imaging in the UV-VIS-NIR region using three imaging spectrometers, along with a low energy X-ray spectrometer will provide mineralogical and chemical composition of the lunar surface at high spatial resolution. A terrain mapping camera will provide high resolution three-dimensional images of the lunar surface and will be complemented by a laser ranging instrument that will provide lunar altimetry. Three payloads - a high energy X-gamma ray spectrometer, a sub-keV atom reflecting analyser, and miniature imaging radar - will be used for the first time for remote sensing exploration of a planetary body. They will investigate transport of volatiles on the lunar surface, presence of localized lunar mini-magnetosphere and possible presence of water ice in the permanently shadowed lunar polar region respectively. A radiation dose monitor will provide information on energetic particle flux en route to the moon and in lunar orbit. An impact probe carrying an imaging system, a radar altimeter and a mass spectrometer will be released from the spacecraft to land at a predestinated lunar site. The design of the one tonne-class spacecraft is primarily adapted from flight proven Indian Remote Sensing satellite bus with several modifications that are specific to the lunar mission. The spacecraft was launched by using a variant of the indigenous Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) and placed in a 100 km circular polar orbit around the moon with a planned mission life of two years. An Indian Deep Space Network and an Indian Space Science Data Center have been established as a part of Chandrayaan-1 mission and will cater to the need of future Indian space science and planetary missions.
