If the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully executes the Chandrayaan 3 mission, India will join an exclusive list of just three other countries that have achieved a soft landing on the Moon—the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union, and most recently, China.
Both the United States and the Soviet Union experienced numerous spacecraft crashes before achieving a successful Moon landing. China stands out as the only country to achieve success in its first attempt with the Chang’e-3 mission in 2013.
Chandrayaan 3 has several critical events ahead, including earth-bound manoeuvres, insertion into the lunar orbit, separation of the lander, a series of deboost manoeuvres, and a power descent phase for a soft landing. P Veeramuthuvel, the project director of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, provided this information.
Chandrayaan 3 Live Updates and Location:
10th August - ISRO shares image of moon taken during Lunar Orbit Insertion and the image of earth taken by the Lander Image camera on 14th July.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 10, 2023
🌎 viewed by
Lander Imager (LI) Camera
on the day of the launch
&
🌖 imaged by
Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera (LHVC)
a day after the Lunar Orbit Insertion
LI & LHV cameras are developed by SAC & LEOS, respectively https://t.co/tKlKjieQJS… pic.twitter.com/6QISmdsdRS
8th August - Chairman ISRO, Dr. S Somnath, confidantly claims in a lecture with an NGO Disha Bharat that the Chandrayaan-3 mission will be succesfull even if the sensors and or the engine fails. "If everything fails, all sensors stop working, and nothing works, still Vikram will make a soft-landing provided that propulsion system works well" he said.
6th August - The spacecraft successfully completed a planned orbit reduction maneuver by firing its engines in retrograde. As a result, it has now come closer to the Moon's surface, with an orbit range of 170 km x 4313 km. The next step in the process is scheduled for August 9, 2023, between 13:00 and 14:00 Hrs. IST, where another operation will be conducted to further reduce its orbit.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 6, 2023
The spacecraft successfully underwent a planned orbit reduction maneuver. The retrofiring of engines brought it closer to the Moon's surface, now to 170 km x 4313 km.
The next operation to further reduce the orbit is scheduled for August 9, 2023, between… pic.twitter.com/e17kql5p4c
5th August - Chandrayaan-3 has flawlessly entered the lunar orbit, achieving precisely the intended orbit dimensions of 164 km by 18074 km. A skilled maneuver was executed at the Perilune, directed from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) located in ISTRAC, Bengaluru. The upcoming task on the agenda involves orbit reduction, a critical step in the mission plan. This action is planned for August 6, 2023, approximately at 23:00 Hours Indian Standard Time (IST).
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 5, 2023
“MOX, ISTRAC, this is Chandrayaan-3. I am feeling lunar gravity 🌖”
🙂
Chandrayaan-3 has been successfully inserted into the lunar orbit.
A retro-burning at the Perilune was commanded from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), ISTRAC, Bengaluru.
The next… pic.twitter.com/6T5acwiEGb
4th August - Chandrayaan-3 covers about two-thirds of the distance to the moon. Lunar Orbit Injection is now set for Aug 5, 2023, around 19:00 Hrs. IST.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 4, 2023
The spacecraft has covered about two-thirds of the distance to the moon.
Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI) set for Aug 5, 2023, around 19:00 Hrs. IST. pic.twitter.com/MhIOE65w3V
1st August - Chandrayaan-3 completes its Earth orbits and will now embark on its journey towards the Moon. A remarkable perigee-firing at ISTRAC, ISRO, has skillfully placed the spacecraft into its translunar orbit. As it approaches the lunar vicinity, the eagerly awaited Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) is meticulously scheduled for Aug 5, 2023.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 31, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 completes its orbits around the Earth and heads towards the Moon.
A successful perigee-firing performed at ISTRAC, ISRO has injected the spacecraft into the translunar orbit.
Next stop: the Moon 🌖
As it arrives at the moon, the… pic.twitter.com/myofWitqdi
26th July - The TransLunar Injection (TLI) is scheduled for August 1, 2023, sometime between midnight and 1 am IST. The scheduled TLI will will slingshot the spacecraft towards the Moon, marking the beginning of its lunar journey.
25 July - Chandrayaan-3, has succesfully executed its fifth and ultimate Earth-bound orbit-raising maneuver on 25th July, between 2 pm and 3 pm IST. Upon reaching its destination, the spacecraft is anticipated to settle into an orbit of 127,609 km x 236 km. The confirmation of the achieved orbit will be based on subsequent observations. The manoeuvre was performed from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC).
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 25, 2023
The orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully from ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru.
The spacecraft is expected to attain an orbit of 127609 km x 236 km. The achieved orbit will be confirmed after the observations.
The next… pic.twitter.com/LYb4XBMaU3
20 July - According to the (ISRO), the Chandrayaan 3 accomplished its fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre between 2 and 3 PM IST on Thursday, July 20. This marks the fourth in a series of many orbit-raising manoeuvres before the spacecraft positions itself into a lunar orbit.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 20, 2023
🇮🇳 India celebrates #InternationalMoonDay 2023 by propelling Chandrayaan-3 🛰️ a step closer to the Moon 🌖
The fourth orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully from ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru.
The next firing is planned for… pic.twitter.com/XeuD5c06v1
18 July - The spacecraft achieved a planned orbit of 51400 km x 228 km.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 18, 2023
The spacecraft has attained a 51400 km x 228 km orbit, as planned.
ISRO officially verified the triumphant completion of the third orbit-raising manoeuvre, executed between 2 and 3 PM IST on Tuesday, July 18. The spacecraft currently orbits the Earth at a proximity of 228 kilometres at its closest and reaches a maximum distance of 51,400 kilometres. The next firing event is slated for Thursday, July 20, between 2 PM and 3 PM IST.
14 July -
Also Read - Chandrayaan 3: Scientists Behind ISRO Moon Mission and Their Educational Background
Chandrayaan 3 Video
ISRO accomplished the lunar maneuver on Sunday, following the successful guidance of Chandrayaan-3 into an elliptical lunar orbit the previous day. During this operation, the spacecraft's altitude at apolune, which denotes its farthest point from the moon, was effectively reduced from 18,074 km to 4,313 km.
They also shred a video on their official website with the title, "Chandrayraan-3 Mission: The Moon, as viewed by Chandrayaan-3 during Lunar Orbit Insertion".
Chandrayaan 3 Position
As of 25 July ISRO validated Chandrayaan’s new orbit parameters. In its latest orbit, the spacecraft will perch at a distance of 233 kilometres from the Earth at its nearest and 71,351 kilometres at its farthest.
Also Check - Essay on Chandrayaan 3
Chandrayaan 3 Status
The comprehensive reports by scientists at ISRO encompass essential details concerning the upcoming landing of the rover on the Moon. As per expectations, the vehicle will be deployed on the uncharted South Pole of the Moon, where it will conduct investigations into water, ice, and minerals.
This presents a significant advantage for India, as the South Pole remains a relatively unexplored region with immense scientific potential.
ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, plans to disclose the results of the safe landing on the Moon, along with in-depth analyses, on the 14th of July or later. The specifics of the mission, including analytical data, will be made available to the public, enabling everyone to partake in this remarkable scientific endeavour.
What is Trans Lunar Injection?
Trans Lunar Injection (TLI) is a critical maneuver performed by spacecraft or rockets to leave Earth's orbit and travel to the Moon. It is an essential part of lunar missions and is typically executed after the spacecraft achieves low Earth orbit (LEO) following its launch. The purpose of the Trans Lunar Injection is to give the spacecraft the required velocity and trajectory to escape Earth's gravitational pull and enter a trajectory that will intercept the Moon. Essentially, TLI is the process of boosting the spacecraft's speed and energy to enter a trans-lunar trajectory.
To perform a Trans Lunar Injection, the spacecraft's propulsion system is fired at a specific point and with the correct amount of thrust to achieve the desired trajectory. The timing and accuracy of this burn are crucial because if the spacecraft doesn't achieve the correct velocity or angle, it may miss the Moon or fail to enter a stable lunar orbit. Once the spacecraft completes the Trans Lunar Injection burn, it enters a trajectory that will carry it towards the Moon. Throughout the journey, additional trajectory adjustments and burns may be necessary to fine-tune the path and ensure a successful lunar arrival.
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