# Moon Impact Probe

> lunar probe released by Chandrayaan-1 lunar remote sensing orbiter

**Wikidata**: [Q738559](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q738559)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Impact_Probe)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/moon-impact-probe

## Summary
The Moon Impact Probe (MIP) was a small lunar probe released by India's Chandrayaan-1 mission to deliberately impact the Moon's surface, studying its composition and environment. It was part of a broader scientific experiment to analyze lunar soil and dust before the main orbiter began its mission.

## Key Facts
- **Class**: Impact probe and lunar probe
- **Mass**: 35 kilograms
- **Launch Date**: October 22, 2008
- **Launch Vehicle**: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- **Significant Event**: Impacted the Moon's Shackleton crater on November 14, 2008
- **Operator/Owner**: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- **Parent Mission**: Chandrayaan-1
- **Aliases**: MIP, 月面衝突プローブ
- **Country**: India
- **Wikidata ID**: Q199913

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Moon Impact Probe?
A: The Moon Impact Probe was designed to study the Moon's surface composition and environment by deliberately impacting the lunar surface, providing data before the main Chandrayaan-1 orbiter began its mission.

### Q: When and where did the Moon Impact Probe land?
A: The Moon Impact Probe impacted the Shackleton crater on November 14, 2008, as part of its scientific mission.

### Q: Who operated the Moon Impact Probe?
A: The Moon Impact Probe was operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as part of India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar exploration mission.

### Q: What was the mass of the Moon Impact Probe?
A: The Moon Impact Probe had a mass of 35 kilograms.

### Q: What type of launch vehicle was used to deploy the Moon Impact Probe?
A: The Moon Impact Probe was launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

## Why It Matters
The Moon Impact Probe played a crucial role in India's Chandrayaan-1 mission by providing early scientific data on the Moon's surface before the main orbiter began its operations. Its impact experiment helped analyze lunar soil and dust, contributing to our understanding of the Moon's composition and environment. As part of ISRO's efforts to advance lunar exploration, the probe demonstrated India's growing capabilities in space science and technology. Its mission highlighted the importance of small, targeted experiments in planetary exploration, paving the way for future lunar and interplanetary missions.

## Notable For
- **First Indian lunar impact mission**: The Moon Impact Probe was India's first dedicated lunar impact experiment, part of Chandrayaan-1.
- **Scientific data collection**: It provided valuable data on lunar surface composition before the main orbiter's mission began.
- **Shackleton crater impact**: Its deliberate impact on the Shackleton crater in 2008 contributed to studies of the Moon's polar regions.
- **Part of Chandrayaan-1**: It was a secondary payload to the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter, demonstrating ISRO's ability to conduct complementary missions.
- **Technological demonstration**: The probe showcased ISRO's expertise in designing and executing small, high-impact lunar experiments.

## Body
### Mission Overview
The Moon Impact Probe was a small, 35-kilogram spacecraft released by the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter to study the Moon's surface composition and environment. It was launched on October 22, 2008, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) as part of India's first lunar exploration mission.

### Scientific Objectives
The primary objective of the Moon Impact Probe was to collect data on lunar soil and dust by impacting the Moon's surface. This data was intended to support the main scientific goals of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, including mapping the Moon's mineralogy and searching for water ice.

### Impact Event
On November 14, 2008, the Moon Impact Probe deliberately impacted the Shackleton crater, a region of scientific interest due to its potential for harboring water ice. The impact provided valuable insights into the lunar surface's composition and structure.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 35 kilograms
- **Launch Date**: October 22, 2008
- **Launch Vehicle**: PSLV
- **Operator**: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- **Parent Mission**: Chandrayaan-1

### Significance
The Moon Impact Probe was notable for being India's first dedicated lunar impact experiment and for contributing to the broader scientific understanding of the Moon's surface. Its mission demonstrated ISRO's capability to conduct targeted, high-impact experiments in lunar exploration.

## References

1. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2008-052A)