Recreation of Chandrayaan 3 Launch!!!

This is my attempt at recreating the historical moment of the India and its space agency (ISRO), the Chandrayaan 3 as close as I can! In this attempt, there are 11 parts in the animation, namely: Initial shot, Launch, Booster sep, First stage ignition, First sep second ignition, Payload release, Payload to moon, Approaching moon, Prep for landing, Landing, Rover rollout.

There are 8 3d parts that are in the animation, namely: Lightning towers, Launch tower, Booster, First stage, Second stage and fairing, Propulsion module, Lander module and the Rover.

A bit of history:

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 (which unfortunately crashed on the moon's surface) to launch a lander and rover on the moon's surface. It consists of Lander and Rover configuration (Vikram lunar lander and a Pragyan lunar rover). It was launched by LVM3 from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The propulsion module carried the lander and rover configuration till 100 km lunar orbit. The propulsion module had Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

Chandrayaan-3 was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 14 July 2023. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 5 August, and became the first lander to touch down near the lunar south pole^[12] on 23 August at 18:03 IST (12:33 UTC), making India the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon!!!

In this instructible I will be going through how i made the 3d models, how i animated the 3d models, the tools and addons i used etc.

1. A decent computer (beefy as that guy in pic) (not the light bulb guy!)
2. Some spare time
3. Lot of imagination!

I used Fusion 360 and Blender for this. Pls refer the video for a clear understanding. The steps and methods I used during the designing and animation process is what I felt easy for me and in my understanding, if there is a better way (and there is always!) to make the process easier, just go for it!!! (and let me know too...)

I feel that 3d designing is best learnt with trail and errors. It's awesome to pick up certain tricks and tips that makes the same shape we are after easier and faster. Also, I feel that explaining each step with words can limit one's ability to question if there is an even easier way!

For the booster, I first added a canvas to outline the booster and for reference too!

1. to insert the canvas, click on the 'canvas' button on the insert tab. Then select 'insert from my computer' if you have it on your computer.
2. then trace out the outline of the booster (which is cylindrical) so that we can use the revolve tool to make the cylinder.
3. Then we can add on the little details to make it look like a booster.
4. After that, I added the engine (solid rocket motor) using the revolve tool at the cylinder.
5. Then I added the little rocket at the side of the booster using the same technique (revolve).
6. For the ribs on that little side rocket shaped thingy (S200 FNC Oil tank ig...) I used the extrude tool (you can use revolve for this too! or whichever gets the shape done faster!), placed it at the base and used in the "pattern" tool to make the 'repeating' rib pattern.
7. To connect it to the Booster, I simply extruded a rod and clipped it to the booster. (Little imperfections are fine ig... as long as it is not visible from afar!) Then I used it the mirror tool to make it symmetric.
8. For the channels on the base of the booster, I extruded a rod, aligned it with the booster's lower conical part and then used the 'circular pattern' tool under the 'create' tab. I chose a number of these rods to be repeated to make it look like channels.
9. For the bigger ribs pattern on the booster, i used the same principle used on step-6.
10. For rest of the smaller details, I used similar principles to achieve the desired shape as shown in the video.

For the first stage, I used the same canvas so that the size and ratio of the first stage (and later stages) and the booster stays proportional also, I will have an idea of the scale of each part. Also... pls refer the video for each part as it is quite difficult for me to explain in words how I designed the particular shape... I do it in a flow and edit out the looong thinking parts after I screen record.

1. Simply hide the booster for now.
2. then trace out the outline of the first stage (which is also cylindrical) so that we can use the 'revolve' tool to make that cylinder.
3. Then we can add on the not so little details to make it look like the first stage of LVM3.
4. Then I added 2 cylinders with domes on top to make it look like the main fuel tank is splitting into two.
5. After that, I added the two engines, one in front of the other, using the 'revolve' and 'symmetry' tool at the base of the two structures.
6. Using the same principle of channelling pattern, I used while designing the booster, I made a long rod and aligned it with the body of the first stage and did 'circular pattern'.
7. Then I added some ribs across the length of the rocket using the 'extrude' and 'rectangular' pattern tool. This adds a bit of texture in the rocket (or as given in the canvas I used!).
8. Then I designed the part which connects with the second stage keeping in mind the space required by the second stage's engine. (We will need to consider this as in the animation, it will be clearly seen and will clip through otherwise... for anything else not visible while animating something, just skip it!).
9. After adding a pipes and details, the First Stage is done!

NOTE: the model of the rocket will be different as per the design of the original model.

For the second stage, I used the same canvas again.

1. Simply hide the first stage for now.
2. First, I created two cylinders, the lower one smaller than the upper one. This is because I wanted to add a neat detail of 2 separate fuel tanks.
3. Then I added the truss system that will hold the upper fuel tank separate by creating a sketch of 2 circles at the rim of the bottom of the smaller cylinder.
4. Then I copied this sketch and raised it to the bottom of the larger cylinder. Now, we can use the 'loft' tool (in create tab) to create rods that cross each other.
5. Make sure that the smaller cylinder is hidden when lofting or select the "New Body" option in the loft menu.
6. then combine the two rods that cross each other and select it. Now, we use the 'pattern' tool to create a 'circular' pattern.
7. To cut out the two tanks that are visible through the truss, select a plane perpendicular to the base of the cylinder and draw outline of the shape of the tanks and use the 'revolve' tool to make the two tanks.
8. We can now delete the smaller cylinder.
9. Then I added the part that will hold the payload (the conical part on top) and a few extra details.
10. The design of the Second Stage is Done!

NOTE: you can add as much detail as you like!

I added this lightning tower so that the background will not look toooo empty.

For the propulsion module, I did not use a canvas as it has a few parts that I thought would be difficult to make. So I referenced the propulsion in Wikipedia (homework buddy!) and for the lander and rover too.

I will link it down below in the "References" step.

1. First, I made the large rectangular block and then the cylinder and the little conical shape that connects to the lander module.
2. Then I added engine cone with its support using 'revolve' tool.
3. Then I added the little details so that it will not look like a plain box.
4. The Propulsion Module is Done!

I designed the lander on the propulsion module so that I will not lose track of the size and proportion of the payload. It's my favourite!

1. First, at the point where the propulsion is connected, I made a sketch of a trapezoid and then extruded to get a trapezoidal prism... ig (Trapezoid in 3d) (let's call it 'block').
2. Then I used the 'shell' tool in the 'modify tab' to carve out a hollow block.
3. Then I sketched out the ramp door at the plane of the hollowed rim.
4. Using the extrude and combine tools I made the ramp door and the front face of the block.
5. Then I added the details which is mostly made using the extrude, sketch, combine tools.
6. There are a LOT of details (bits and pieces).
7. The Lander Module is Done!

The rover sits inside the lander stuck at the door.

1. First, I extruded the rectangular box which is its body, then I added the little extrusion at the top of the box.
2. Then I added the wheels by creating a sketch then extruding the required parts.
3. Then I added the two little cameras on top of the box.
4. Then I added the solar panels with hinges (as I will be animating the panels at the end).
5. Then I added the two little antennas on top of the panels for a bit more realism.
6. The Rover is Done!

The Launch Tower (Which includes the Tower, Front part and the Launch pad) is a large and complicated structure that has a lot of parts and steps.

Explaining this in words would take up as much volume as all the word count upto now!

I am also not sure how to explain it in words. I tried to make it as realistic as possible... but I saw the real stuff and thought this is enough....

Hence please kindly refer the video (and all the videos)!

Here I linked the f3d file for those who wish to tinker with it! :D

Here in this bit, I tried to capture the close up of the boosters before they fire. I was inspired by the original footage of the launch! I would highly recommend to watch it!

Here's the link! :- How Chandrayaan-3 Took Off From Sriharikota | Chandrayaan 3 Launch Video | ISRO Moon Mission

This comes after the initial shot, it shows the liftoff of the LVM3 rocket at an angle which shows the launch towers, the lightning towers and a few trees!

First the boosters are ignited and then the first stage. I think it helps the rocket reach a decent altitude and speed before igniting the first stage. Once the boosters are spent, they are separated and dropped off. This what I tried to achieve in this part. I added a bit of vibration to the camera to mimic the violent shaking of the powerful boosters.

After the boosters are separated, the first stage is ignited. I added a bit of roll with the shaking effect to the rocket so that it won't look stationary.

In this part, the first stage is separated and then the second stage is ignited. (The sky changed!)

Here, the payload is released after a scenic flyby and the payload heads away from the rocket.

The propulsion module fires its engine for the first time, and it heads for the moon!

The propulsion module with the lander and rover approaches the moon.

The propulsion module is separated from the lander module, it reorients and the lander module carrying the rover heads for the lunar surface!

The land of Chandrayaan 3 on the moon!!!

After the successful landing, the ramp doors open and the rover rolls out to the lunar surface.

After a ton of steps... The final compiled Moon Landing!!!

To all that made it this far! Thank you sooo much for your precious time! I hope I was able to entertain you and also give an idea of how F3d and Blender works!!!

Have a Great Day!

1. The pic above is the canvas I used
2. For adding pictures as stickers to the model: - How to add logo on any object in blender | Blender | #shorts
3. How to rocket launch tutorial: - Blender Tutorial - Creating a Rocket Launch Simulation
4. How to make moon surface, Moonscapes: - Moonscapes User Guide
5. How to animate in blender basics: - Animation for Beginners! (Blender Tutorial)
6. How to animate smoke in blender: - cold falling smoke in BLENDER tutorial
7. Also rocket launch tutorial: - Advanced Rocket Launch in Blender-Tutorial
8. Wikipedia page of the propulsion, lander and rover I referred from: - Chandrayaan-3 - Wikipedia / Chandrayaan-2 - Wikipedia/ Pragyan (Chandrayaan-3) - Wikipedia