The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced the successful adjustment of the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander module’s orbit. This development signifies that the Indian spacecraft is now on track to touch down on the Moon’s surface at 6.04 pm on August 23.
Before the planned gentle landing on the Moon, the lander module, consisting of the ‘Vikram’ lander and the ‘Pragyan’ rover, will undergo internal assessments. ISRO performed the second and final deboosting operation, effectively altering the lander module’s orbit to 25 km x 134 km. Following this, the module will undergo internal evaluations and await sunrise at its designated landing location.
This much-anticipated event will be live-streamed on August 23, commencing at 5:27 pm IST across various platforms, including the ISRO Website, its YouTube channel, ISRO’s Facebook page, and DD National TV channel.
About Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14 and entered lunar orbit on August 5. Subsequent orbit reduction maneuvers occurred on August 6, 9, 14, and 16, leading up to the separation of its two modules on August 17. After 35 days of its launch, the lander module successfully detached from the propulsion module.
Following separation, the lander underwent ‘deboost’ operations to position it in an orbit where its nearest point to the Moon (Perilune) is 30 kilometers away, and its farthest point from the Moon (Apolune) is 100 km away.
Soft Landing
The focus now shifts to the soft landing attempt in the Moon’s south-polar region. As the lander reaches an altitude of approximately 30 km, it enters the powered braking phase, utilizing its thrusters to gradually descend to the Moon’s surface. Around 100 meters above the surface, the lander will scan for any potential obstacles before initiating the final descent for a gentle landing.
On August 1, a pivotal maneuver known as a “slingshot move” propelled the spacecraft towards the Moon from its Earth orbit. Following this trans-lunar injection, Chandrayaan-3 broke free from Earth’s orbit and commenced a trajectory leading it closer to the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3 serves as a continuation of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, aiming to showcase a complete capability for safe landing and mobility on the lunar surface. The primary objectives encompass achieving a secure and soft lunar landing, demonstrating rover mobility on the Moon, and conducting on-site scientific experiments.
