India

Chandrayaan-3 Update: Final Moon Mission Begins As Chandrayaan-3 Lander Separates From Propulsion Module

Today at 1 pm, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully separated the Vikram lander from the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s propulsion module, marking a significant advancement in India’s lunar exploration efforts.

One step closer to a gentle landing on the moon has been reached by the spaceship.

The lander, named Vikram Sarabhai after the father of India’s space effort, is equipped with the Pragyan rover. An important turning point in the mission has been reached with the lander’s separation from the propulsion module.

The lander will then be placed into a tighter orbit around the Moon after that.

Currently, the Chandrayaan-3 mission is orbiting the Moon at a distance of 153 km by 163 km. The choice of the landing place will be the next significant event.

Instead of landing in a 500 square metre space during Chandrayaan-2, Isro chose a location with a 4 km x 2.4 km size. This choice was taken to provide the landing attempt additional freedom.

Despite its difficult topography, the south pole area of the Moon is a highly prized target for astronomers because it may contain significant volumes of ice. The extraction of fuel, oxygen, and even drinking water may be facilitated by this.

On August 23, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover are anticipated to touch down on the lunar surface.

Russian Luna-25, which was launched weeks after Chandrayaan-3 but may touch down on the Moon two days before, is their main rival. Despite the near scheduling, both missions have distinct landing zones set up to prevent interference or the danger of a crash.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s objectives include conducting in-situ scientific investigations and demonstrating a secure and gentle landing on the lunar surface.

This mission succeeds Chandrayaan-2, which encountered difficulties in September 2019 when the Vikram lander veered off course during the landing attempt and cut off communication.

Chandrayaan-3 has utilised lessons learnt from that mission, such as improving algorithms and software to reduce software faults.

The race to the Moon’s undiscovered south pole is intensifying in front of the globe as both Russia’s Luna-25 and India’s Chandrayaan-3 prepare to settle on the moon the next week.

Priyanka Rai

Recent Posts

Kisan Credit Card Scheme A Lifeline For Indian Farmers: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday described the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme as a…

15 mins ago

Trump Administration Shuts Down Controversial ‘Quiet Skies’ Surveillance Program

The Trump administration has officially shut down the ‘Quiet Skies’ passenger surveillance program, a covert…

48 mins ago

PM Modi Likely To Visit Bengal For Twin Programmes On June 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit West Bengal later this month for two…

49 mins ago

Elon Musk Hints At Launching ‘The America Party’ As Political Rift With Trump Widens

Elon Musk has sparked speculation about founding a new political outfit named 'The America Party'…

1 hour ago

Trump Set to Sell His Tesla Car As Clash With Elon Musk Escalates

US President Trump is reportedly planning to sell his Tesla car, purchased in March to…

1 hour ago

Musk-Trump Fallout Threatens NASA And Pentagon Operations: Report

A recent fued between Elon Musk and former US President Donald Trump has raised serious…

2 hours ago