Chandrayaan-3 updates: The spacecraft inches closer to moon

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shared the first visuals of the moon captured by the spacecraft Chandrayaan-3. The series of photographs, captured as Chandrayaan-3 passed by the earth’s sole natural satellite, showed the pockmarked surface of the Moon from various angles.

In the video shared on Twitter, the spacecraft is seen capturing the visuals of the moon during Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) on August 5. According to the ISRO’s website, it states that the spacecraft is in 170 km x 4313 km orbit around the moon.

 

The Moon’s cratered surface was captured by Chandrayan-3 after entering the lunar orbit.

“The Moon, as viewed by Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft during Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) on August 5, 2023,” tweeted the Mission’s official Twitter handle.

The Moon mission has been smooth so far and the ISRO expects the Vikram lander to make a soft landing on the lunar surface later this month on August 23.

Chandrayaan-3 in the trans-lunar orbit

Chandrayaan-3 has successfully entered a translunar orbit, starting its journey towards the moon, after completing several Earth orbits since it was launched on July 14. On Sunday, the spacecraft entered lunar orbit.

ISRO in a tweet said, “The spacecraft successfully underwent a planned orbit reduction maneuver. The retrofitting of engines brought it closer to the moon’s surface, now to 170 km x 4313 km. The next operation to further reduce the orbit is scheduled for August 9, 2023, between 13:00 and 14:00 Hrs. IST.”

Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3

After the Sunday maneuver of Chandrayaan-3, there will be three more operations till August 17 following which the Landing Module Vikram carrying the rover Pragyan inside will break away from the Propulsion Module. After this, de-orbiting maneuvers will be carried on the lander before the final powered descent on the moon.

The spacecraft has covered about two-thirds of the distance to the Moon since its launch on July 14 and the next 18 days will be crucial for the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO).

The Moon mission has been smooth so far and the ISRO expects the Vikram lander to make a soft landing on the lunar surface later this month on August 23.

The injection into the lunar orbit marked a major milestone in the space agency’s ambitious ₹ 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission.

(With agency inputs)

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