The final orbit-raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-3 completed
What do we know about the Chandrayaan-3 mission?
- Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar exploration mission to be launched as part of the Chandrayaan program. It consists of the same components as Chandrayaan-2, India’s second lunar mission, including a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan. Notably, Chandrayaan-3 differs from Chandrayaan-2 in that it does not have an orbiter.
- Propulsion Module as Communication Relay: Chandrayaan-3’s propulsion module serves as a satellite-based communication relay. This shows that the propulsion module permits communication between the lander, rover, and Earth in addition to providing thrust for the spacecraft.
What was the need for Chandrayaan-3?
- The Chandrayaan-3 mission is being proposed in response to the landing failure of Chandrayaan-2, which was caused by a last-minute error in the landing guidance software.
- The lander thus lost control after entering lunar orbit and crashed. Another lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, was envisioned to address this failure and potential future advancements.
- Chandrayaan-3 is an important first step for India’s next interplanetary missions. This suggests that the mission is part of a larger plan to strengthen India’s capacity for exploration beyond Earth’s orbit as well as a lunar exploration project.
When was it launched?
- On July 14, 2023, at 2:35 IST (Indian Standard Time), Chandrayaan-3 was launched. The spacecraft then accomplished a lunar injection, putting it into a 100 km circular polar orbit around the moon.
- This stage is frequently essential to ensuring the spacecraft is positioned correctly for the mission’s later stages.
- Date and Place of Planned Landing: On August 23, 2023, the lander and rover are anticipated to make contact with the lunar surface close to the south pole.
- Due to the presence of places that are constantly shadowed and where water ice deposits have previously been found, the lunar south pole has attracted the attention of space agencies in particular.
- Landing here could yield important scientific information.
What is the latest development in Chandrayaan-3?
- Status of the Mission: According to the most recent information, the ISRO-led Chandrayaan-3 mission has completed its fifth and last orbit-raising manoeuvre.
- Orbit Parameters: The spacecraft is now in an orbit with the closest point to Earth of 236 kilometres and the farthest point of 1,27,609 km.
- TransLunar Injection (TLI): The following step The mission’s next crucial phase, the TransLunar Injection (TLI), is set for August 1, 2023, between midnight and one in the morning IST. Chandrayaan-3 will be launched towards the moon during the TLI.
- Lander Touchdown: On August 23, 2023, at 5.47 p.m. (IST), the lander is anticipated to touch down on the moon’s surface.
