“Chandrayaan 3, in its precise orbit, has begun its journey to the Moon. Health of the Spacecraft is normal”, says ISRO on Twitter
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The launch took place at 2:35:17 PM IST on 14th July, Friday. According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 is the follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 which was launched on 19th June, 2019 to demonstrate end-to-end capability for safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
On a successful completion of this mission by ISRO, India will mark itself as the fourth country in the world to join those who have successfully soft-launched their satellite on the Moon. The budget of the mission is reported to be INR Rs. 615 crore, including the lander rover, propulsion module and the launch assistance.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has emphasised the importance of Chandrayaan-3, which is India’s third lunar mission. In a tweet thread, the Prime Minister said: “14th July 2023 will always be etched in golden letters as far as India’s space sector is concerned. Chandrayaan-3, our third lunar mission, will embark on its journey. This remarkable mission will carry the hopes and dreams of our nation.”
Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India’s space odyssey. It soars high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of every Indian. This momentous achievement is a testament to our scientists’ relentless dedication. I salute their spirit and ingenuity! https://t.co/gko6fnOUaK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
Similar to the path of Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 will comprise three critical stages: Earth orbit manoeuvres, Trans-lunar injection, and Lunar orbit manoeuvres. Following the orbit-raising manoeuvres, Chandrayaan-3 will enter the Lunar Transfer Trajectory. Over the course of several weeks, the spacecraft will traverse a distance of more than 400,000 kilometres to reach the Moon. Equipped with scientific instruments, it will extensively study and examine the lunar surface, contributing to our understanding of the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3 will orbit the moon four times, coming closer each time. Comprising a lander, rover, and propulsion module, Chandrayaan-3 has a total weight of around 3,900 kilogrammes. Considering that the distance between the Earth and the Moon is shorter during this period, the launch window was decided to be July. The projected timeline estimates a duration of approximately 40 days for the spacecraft to execute a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, expectedly around August 23 or 24. Once successfully landed, it will operate for a period of 14 Earth days, conducting scientific investigations and collecting valuable data.
