New Delhi: In a momentous achievement for India’s space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the lunar orbit insertion (LOI) of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on Saturday, marking a crucial step towards its ambitious mission of a soft landing on the moon’s surface. The spacecraft is now orbiting the moon, setting the stage for a series of orbit reduction maneuvers in the coming days.
Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, has been steadily progressing towards its lunar destination. The LOI maneuver, a critical operation, was executed with precision, slowing down the spacecraft to allow the moon’s gravity to capture it. ISRO confirmed the successful insertion, stating that the spacecraft’s systems are functioning nominally.
“Today, Chandrayaan-3 has been successfully inserted into a lunar orbit. The operations were precise and as per the planned schedule,” announced ISRO in a press release. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the entire ISRO team.”
The coming days will be crucial as ISRO undertakes a series of orbit reduction maneuvers to gradually lower Chandrayaan-3’s altitude around the moon. These maneuvers will precisely position the spacecraft for the final descent and soft landing attempt, slated for August 23. The lander module, carrying the rover, is expected to separate from the propulsion module in the coming weeks.
Chandrayaan-3’s primary objectives include demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, deploying a rover to conduct in-situ scientific experiments, and gathering data on the moon’s composition. The mission aims to contribute significantly to our understanding of the lunar environment and pave the way for future lunar explorations.
If successful, India will become only the fourth country in the world to achieve a soft landing on the moon, joining the United States, Russia, and China. The mission is a significant boost to India’s growing stature in space exploration and a testament to the country’s technological prowess. The entire nation is eagerly awaiting the soft landing, with prayers and best wishes pouring in for the success of Chandrayaan-3.