Bengaluru, August 16: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the final orbit lowering manoeuvre for the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on Wednesday, one week before its planned lunar landing.
“Today’s successful firing, which was only needed for a short time, placed Chandrayaan-3 in the intended orbit of 153 km x 163 km.” “The lunar-bound manoeuvres are now complete,” ISRO announced today.
The spacecraft, which launched on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, is expected to make contact with the lunar surface near the South Polar region on August 23. A GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle was used to launch the spacecraft. It was sent into lunar orbit on August 5, and since then, a series of orbital manoeuvres have been performed to gradually reduce its altitude, bringing it closer to the moon’s surface.
The fifth and final orbit-reduction operation of the day was carried out from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.
With the lunar-bound manoeuvres completed, ISRO stated that the mission’s focus has switched to the next stages of preparations as the Propulsion Module and Lander Module prepare “for their separate journeys.” The Lander Module will be separated from the Propulsion Module on August 17.
“A step closer to the MOON!” wrote Union Minister Jitendra Singh on X. Today’s successful firing, which was only needed for a short time, placed Chandrayaan3 in the intended orbit of 153 km x 163 km. The lunar bound manoeuvres have now been accomplished.”
ISRO is trying a successful soft landing on the Moon, which would make India the fourth country in the world to accomplish the feat, joining the United States, China, and Russia.
Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission, is the country’s second attempt at a soft lunar landing. It is a follow-up mission to the failed Chandrayaan-2 moon mission in 2019. It will demonstrate India’s full potential for a safe lunar landing and roaming.
Several electrical and mechanical subsystems designed to ensure a soft and safe landing are included in the components of Chandrayaan-3, including guidance and control systems, propulsion systems, and navigation sensors. There are also release systems, antennas for two-way communication, and other onboard electronics.
The claimed goals of Chandrayaan-3 include a safe and soft landing, lunar rover exploration, and in-situ scientific research.
