Chandrayaan-3’s anticipated lunar landing on August 23 has captured the attention of the public as India’s eagerly awaited moon mission. With just two days remaining until its scheduled touchdown, the entire nation is holding its breath in anticipation. Amid the natural feelings of anxiety and suspense, the forthcoming celebration is poised to be particularly joyous, given the lessons learned from the fate of Chandrayaan-2.
The Chandrayaan-3 Journey
Hailing from Sriharikota, Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan. The lander is primed to execute a gentle and secure landing on the lunar surface, after which the rover will conduct on-site chemical analyses of the moon’s terrain. The primary objective of this mission is to pioneer and validate novel technologies necessary for future interplanetary voyages. The operational span of the lander and rover is confined to a single lunar day, equivalent to 14 days on Earth.
As Chandrayaan-3 prepares for its upcoming lunar landing, a brief overview of its remarkable journey provides insight into the meticulous steps taken to reach this momentous occasion: Starting from July 7 to 13, the mission’s launch date is confirmed, followed by the successful completion of vehicle electrical tests. A rehearsal of the launch takes place, inviting the public to witness this pivotal event.
On July 14, the long-awaited launch day arrives, propelling Chandrayaan-3 from Sriharikota as it embarks on its voyage toward the moon. Reports confirm the spacecraft’s condition as normal. July 15 witnesses the execution of the initial orbit-raising maneuver, marked by the successful Earth-bound firing 1 at ISRO, Bengaluru.
As Chandrayaan-3 draws closer to the moon, July 17 sees the implementation of the second orbit-raising maneuver, a critical step in its journey. July 22 marks the accomplishment of the fourth orbit-raising maneuver, known as Earth-bound perigee firing. Continuing its journey, July 25 sees yet another orbit-raising maneuver, setting the stage for the translunar injection scheduled for August 1.
On August 1, Chandrayaan-3 assumes a position in the translunar orbit, with plans set for lunar-orbit insertion (LOI) on August 5. August 5 becomes a significant milestone as Chandrayaan-3 successfully enters the lunar orbit. During the period of August 6 to 16, the spacecraft’s orbit is gradually adjusted, reducing from 170 km x 4313 km around the moon to 153 km x 163 km. August 17 witnesses the successful detachment of the lander module from the propulsion module, with the subsequent deboosting procedure set for August 18.
On August 19, Chandrayaan-3’s lander module orbits the moon at a mere 113 km x 157 km. The second deboosting maneuver is scheduled for August 20. August 20 brings news from ISRO, announcing the successful completion of the second and final deboosting maneuver. This aligns the lander module’s orbit to 25 km x 134 km. The module now undergoes internal evaluations and awaits the break of dawn at the designated landing site. The much-anticipated powered descent is anticipated to commence around 5:45 PM on August 23, with Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing on the moon projected for approximately 6:04 PM.
