New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has released fresh information on its landmark mission Chandrayaan-3 as it steadily approaches the Moon.
On Friday, the Vikram lander module of Chandrayaan-3 successfully performed a deboosting manoeuvre, an essential part of the trip to the Moon. The Lander module, which includes the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover, has successfully deboosted and is now in an orbit of 113 km by 157 km.
The second deboost is planned at 2 PM on August 20, 2023. As part of the second deboost operation, the module’s distance will be lowered by 100 kilometres in lunar orbit before a soft landing is attempted.
ISRO said on Twitter, “Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The Lander Module (LM) health is normal.
LM successfully underwent a deboosting operation that reduced its orbit to 113 km x 157 km.
The second deboosting operation is scheduled for August 20, 2023, around 0200 Hrs. IST”
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The Lander Module (LM) health is normal.LM successfully underwent a deboosting operation that reduced its orbit to 113 km x 157 km.
The second deboosting operation is scheduled for August 20, 2023, around 0200 Hrs. IST #Chandrayaan_3#Ch3 pic.twitter.com/0PVxV8Gw5z
— ISRO (@isro) August 18, 2023
On August 23rd, Chandrayaan-3 will make the first attempt at a soft landing near the south pole of the Moon.
If the manoeuvre goes well, the Vikram Lander and the Pragyan rover will begin their mission, which is scheduled to endure for one lunar day (or 14 Earth days). ISRO will spend this time amassing a wide range of scientific information.
The lander and rover’s transport module, the propulsion module, will remain in lunar orbit to serve as a communication station.
Before the first deboosting, ISRO former chairman Madhavan Nair discussed the strong probability of success for India’s third lunar mission, which was developed after carefully analysing the failures of the 2019 Chandrayaan-2 mission.
ISRO also sent tweets with footage taken by the Lander Position Detection Camera on the moon as part of the latest update.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
View from the Lander Imager (LI) Camera-1
on August 17, 2023
just after the separation of the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module #Chandrayaan_3 #Ch3 pic.twitter.com/abPIyEn1Ad— ISRO (@isro) August 18, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
🌖 as captured by the
Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC)
on August 15, 2023#Chandrayaan_3#Ch3 pic.twitter.com/nGgayU1QUS— ISRO (@isro) August 18, 2023
