The Chandrayaan-3 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making significant progress as it inches closer to achieving a historic soft landing on the moon’s south pole. With the successful completion of the first deboosting operation of the Lander Module on Friday, the mission’s momentum is building up.

Milestone Deboosting Operation

On Friday, the Lander Module of Chandrayaan-3 underwent a crucial deboosting operation, marking a vital step towards reaching the moon’s surface. This operation involved reducing the module’s orbit, which brings the spacecraft closer to its ultimate destination.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The Lander Module (LM) health is normal.

LM successfully underwent a deboosting operation that reduced its orbit to 113 km x 157 km.

The second deboosting operation is scheduled for August 20, 2023, around 0200 Hrs. IST #Chandrayaan_3#Ch3 pic.twitter.com/0PVxV8Gw5z

— ISRO (@isro) August 18, 2023

Scheduled Landing and Recent Achievements

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, which aims to softly land on the moon’s south pole, is set for its monumental touchdown on August 23. This mission, launched on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, has already reached the lunar orbit on August 5, showcasing remarkable progress in its journey.

Upcoming Deboosting and Landers’ Health

In a recent update, ISRO has revealed that the second deboosting operation for Vikram Lander is scheduled for August 20. This upcoming operation is expected to bring the mission even closer to its intended landing site on the moon’s south pole.

Moreover, following the successful completion of the first deboosting, ISRO shared that the health of the Lander Module is normal, affirming the spacecraft’s readiness for its upcoming maneuvers.

Capturing Lunar Views and Module Separation

ISRO has also been sharing captivating glimpses of the moon through the eyes of the spacecraft. The view from the Lander Image (LI) camera-1 was shared, showcasing the moon’s beauty moments after the Lander Module separated from the Propulsion Module on August 17. Additionally, the agency shared images captured by the Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC) on August 15, providing a unique perspective of the lunar surface.

Lander Module’s Milestone Separation

Another significant achievement was the successful separation of the Lander Module from its Propulsion Module on August 17. This milestone marked the readiness of the Lander Module, housing the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover, to descend to an orbit that will eventually lead to the anticipated soft landing.

Advancing Towards Completion

As the Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved its fifth and final orbit maneuver on Wednesday, it reached yet another crucial milestone. This maneuver paved the way for the separation of the Lander Module and the Propulsion Module, bringing the mission a step closer to its ultimate goal.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission exemplifies India’s dedication to space exploration and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific achievement. As the world eagerly awaits the historic landing on August 23, ISRO’s accomplishments continue to inspire the global space community.