Aug 14 – The Indian space agency announced on Monday that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has begun its journey into a circular orbit around the moon.
The spacecraft is getting closer to the moon.
The Indian space agency also announced that its Aditya-L1 spacecraft, the country’s first space-based observatory to study the Sun, is preparing for launch.
“Orbit circularisation phase commences. Precise maneuvre performed today has achieved a near-circular orbit of 150 km x 177 km. The next operation is planned for August 16, 2023, around 0830 Hrs. IST,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tweeted.
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The spacecraft consists of a propulsion module weighing 2,148 kg, a lander weighing 1,723.89 kg, and a rover weighing 26 kg.
After reaching the required orbit, the lander will be released from the propulsion module and is planned to land softly near the moon’s South Pole on August 23 at 5.47 p.m.
The lander will drop to the moon from a height of around 100 kilometres above the moon’s surface. The soft landing is a difficult issue since it requires a sequence of sophisticated actions that include both rough and precise braking.
Prior to landing, imaging of the landing site region will be performed to identify safe and hazard-free zones. Following the soft landing, the six-wheeled rover will roll out and conduct experiments on the lunar surface for one lunar day (14 earth days).
The Chandrayaan-3 was launched into orbit on July 14 by India’s heavy lift rocket LVM3. On August 1, the spacecraft completed its orbit around the Earth and began its journey to the moon. The ISRO injected the spacecraft into translunar orbit on that day after a successful perigee-firing at ISTRAC.
Regardless, ISRO has announced that its Aditya-L1 spacecraft, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is preparing for launch.
“The satellite realised at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru has arrived at SDSC-SHAR (India’s rocket port), Sriharikota,” ISRO said.
ISRO will launch its Aditya-L1 coronagraphy satellite on a PSLV rocket near the end of August or early September to explore the solar atmosphere.
According to ISRO, the spacecraft will be positioned in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth system’s initial Lagrange point, L1.
The satellite orbiting the L1 point has the significant benefit of continuously observing the Sun without occultation or eclipse.
The Aditya-L1 mission is scheduled to take place a few days after ISRO attempts to touchdown its lander on the lunar surface using the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
