Chandrayaan-3: A Journey from Inception to Present

Chandrayaan-3: A Journey from Inception to Present ( 23Aug. 2023 )

Introduction

Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission, is a testament to the technological prowess and scientific curiosity of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This mission is a follow-up to Chandrayaan-2 and aims to demonstrate safe and soft-landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments.

The Launch

The Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket . The LVM-3, previously known as the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Mark-III, was on its fourth operational mission.

The Journey

The spacecraft embarked on a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole.  The propulsion module carried the spacecraft from an injection orbit around Earth till a 100-kilometre lunar orbit.

The Landing

As of August 23, Chandrayaan-3 is preparing for landing. If all goes well, the Vikram lander should make a soft lunar landing at 6.04 PM IST on August 23. This event was live-streamed on social media and TV channels.

Significance of the Mission

If the Chandrayaan-3 mission succeeds in making a touchdown on the moon and in landing a robotic lunar rover, India will become the fourth country to master the technology of soft-landing on the lunar surface after the US, China, and the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Conclusion

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant step forward in India’s space exploration journey. It not only showcases India’s technological capabilities but also contributes to our understanding of the Moon. As we await more updates on this mission, we can only marvel at the wonders of space exploration and look forward to future discoveries.

Please note that this article is based on information available up until August 23, 2023. For more recent updates, please refer to reliable news sources.