Correct Answer: Option A - 1 only
The question asks about the correct statements regarding Chandrayaan-1's objectives:
Statement 1: "Mapping the Moon's chemical and mineral composition was a key objective." This statement is correct.
Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission launched in 2008, had several scientific objectives including creating a comprehensive map of the Moon's chemical and mineral composition. The mission carried instruments specifically designed for this purpose, such as the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3).
Statement 2: "The spacecraft operated entirely in a 200 km orbit."This statement is incorrect.
While Chandrayaan-1 was initially placed in a 100 km circular polar orbit around the Moon, it was later raised to 200 km due to thermal issues. However, it didn't operate "entirely" in a 200 km orbit as claimed in the statement.
Statement 3: "It was ISRO's first interplanetary mission."This statement is also incorrect.
While Chandrayaan-1 was ISRO's first lunar mission, it's not considered an interplanetary mission as the Moon is Earth's natural satellite, not a planet. ISRO's first true interplanetary mission was the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan, launched in 2013.
