Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday announced that Chandrayaan-3 has successfully completed its orbits around the Earth and is currently on its way towards the Moon. The spacecraft was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
“Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Chandrayaan-3 completes its orbits around the Earth and heads towards the Moon”, tweeted ISRO today morning.
Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission, and its primary goal is to land a rover on the Moon and conduct scientific experiments to study the lunar environment. The spacecraft is expected to make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface on August 23, 2023.
In order to reach the Moon, Chandrayaan-3 had to first complete a series of orbit-raising manoeuvres. These manoeuvres were performed over the course of several days, and they gradually increased the spacecraft’s altitude and speed. On Tuesday, the final orbit-raising manoeuvre was successfully completed, and Chandrayaan-3 was injected into a translunar trajectory.
This means that the spacecraft is now on its way to the Moon, and it is expected to reach the lunar surface in about three weeks. Once it arrives, Chandrayaan-3 will deploy its rover, Pragyan, which will explore the Moon’s surface. The rover is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, including a camera, a spectrometer, and a drill. These instruments will be used to study the Moon’s geology, mineralogy, and history.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant achievement for the Indian space program. It will be the first time that India has soft-landed a rover on the Moon, and it will provide valuable insights into the lunar environment. The mission is also a major step forward for India’s space ambitions, and it will help to position India as a leading player in the global space race.
In addition to the rover, Chandrayaan-3 also carries a number of other scientific instruments, including a lunar orbiter, a lander, and a payload module. These instruments will be used to study the Moon’s surface, atmosphere, and interior. The mission is expected to provide valuable data about the Moon’s evolution and its potential for resources.
The successful completion of the orbit-raising manoeuvres is a major milestone for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, and it brings India one step closer to its goal of soft-landing a rover on the Moon. The mission is expected to make significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon, and it will help to pave the way for future lunar exploration.