Chandrayaan-3, India’s ambitious mission to the moon, has been a journey filled with significant milestones. Here is a detailed timeline of the mission’s progress up to date, along with important upcoming events.
On July 6, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) publicly announced the launch date for Chandrayaan-3. Set for July 14, the launch took place from Sriharikota’s second pad.
The following day, vehicle electrical tests were conducted successfully, ensuring the mission’s hardware was ready. On July 11, a complete 24-hour ‘Launch Rehearsal’ was performed, simulating the entire launch process.
The launch occurred on July 14, when the LVM3 M4 vehicle propelled Chandrayaan-3 into its planned orbit.
These steps positioned the spacecraft into progressively higher orbits around Earth.
On July 25, another successful orbit-raising set the stage for the lunar journey. Chandrayaan-3 was inserted into translunar orbit on August 1 and achieved lunar orbit insertion on August 5.
Further adjustments to the lunar orbit were made on August 6, 9, and 14, with ISRO fine-tuning the spacecraft’s path. The fifth and final Moon-bound manoeuvre on August 16 positioned the spacecraft in its targeted orbit.
The separation of the landing module, which houses the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, occurred on August 17. A subsequent ‘deboosting’ operation and final orbit adjustments prepared the module for landing.
The planned lunar touchdown is slated for August 23 at 5:47 pm. The timing is crucial to ensure 14 Earth days of research, as the next lunar night’s frigid temperatures would hinder the rover’s operations.
Drawing from the learnings of the Chandrayaan-2 mission, ISRO’s precision and planning demonstrate India’s growing prowess in space technology. The world is eagerly watching the developments, hoping for another triumph in space exploration for India.
Should unforeseen circumstances arise, ISRO is prepared to reschedule the landing for the next available opportunity in September. The mission’s success symbolizes India’s determination and innovation in space research and stands as a test to the capabilities of Indian scientists and engineers.