CHANDRAYAAN-3, India’s third lunar mission, is on the verge of achieving a momentous lunar soft landing.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed critical maneuvers, including firing engines to achieve an intended orbit of 153 km x 163 km.
Notably, the propulsion module and lander module are set to embark on separate journeys, with the lander module’s separation from the propulsion module scheduled for August 17, 2023.
The journey began on July 14 with a launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, gradually raising its orbit through multiple engine burns.
A trans-lunar injection burn on July 31 propelled Chandrayaan-3 toward lunar gravitational influence.
The craft has since been meticulously lowering its orbit.
Chandrayaan-3’s primary mission is a lunar soft landing, aiming to conduct in-SITU analysis near the lunar surface at around 70 degrees latitude.
Comprising a propulsion module, Lander, and Rover, the mission’s combined mass is 3.9 tonnes.
The Rover and Lander are expected to operate for 14 earth days, gathering valuable data and performing experiments on the lunar surface.
ISRO’s meticulous preparation has brought the mission closer to its anticipated soft landing by August 23, 2023, marking a significant achievement in India’s space exploration endeavors.
