Bengaluru: India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, the nation’s ambitious third lunar mission, achieved another significant milestone on Wednesday as it flawlessly executed its fifth and final lunar-bound orbit maneuver. This maneuver, marking the culmination of its lunar-bound journey, propelled the spacecraft even closer to the Moon’s surface. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that with this successful maneuver, Chandrayaan-3 has concluded its lunar-bound maneuvers and is now poised for the crucial separation of its propulsion module and lander module.
“Today’s precise firing, requiring a brief burst of thrust, has precisely positioned Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit measuring 153 km x 163 km, aligning with our planned trajectory. With this achievement, the lunar-bound maneuvers have reached fruition. As we move forward, our focus shifts to the Propulsion Module and the Lander Module, both primed for their upcoming independent journeys,” shared the national space agency via a tweet. The slated date for the separation of the spacecraft’s lander module from the propulsion module is August 17, according to ISRO’s statement.
Since its liftoff on July 14, Chandrayaan-3 had entered lunar orbit on August 5. Subsequent to this, a sequence of three consecutive orbit reduction maneuvers were meticulously executed on August 6, 9, and 14, masterfully steering the spacecraft into a progressively closer path to the Moon. As the mission proceeds, ISRO continues to orchestrate a series of maneuvers to gradually shrink Chandrayaan-3’s orbit, strategically positioning it over the lunar poles.
With the latest developments, the spacecraft remains on track for its ultimate objective: a gentle touchdown on the Moon’s south polar region, scheduled for August 23. As anticipation heightens, the world watches closely to witness India’s scientific prowess making strides in the exploration of the cosmic frontier.
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