As for tomorrow, i.e., 17th of August, the spacecraft is preparing to undergo a separation of its lander module and propulsion module
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been carefully moving the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft closer to the moon’s surface. With an aim to explore the bottom part of the moon, which is called the south polar region, Chandrayaan-3 is on track and has been put on the right path to reach its destination on the moon. “Today’s successful firing, needed for a short duration, has put Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit of 153 km x 163 km, as intended”, said ISRO on X today.
Adding to this announcement from today morning, 16th of August, Wednesday, ISRO stated that the spacecraft has been going on a journey toward the moon, and has completed all the steps needed to get there. Chandrayaan-3 has been placed in its intended trajectory through five different phases of the “lunar bound maneuvers”, each bringing the spacecraft closer to the lunar surface. The last piece of the puzzle, aka the fifth and final phase of lowering the spacecraft’s orbit has now been successfully completed, bringing Chandrayaan-3 even closer to its destination – the moon.
With only 7 days to go for Chandrayaan-3 to accomplish its soft-landing on the moon, ISRO has given us a quick glimpse of what’s coming next. Tomorrow, i.e., the 17th of August, the spacecraft is scheduled to carefully separate its lander module and propulsion module. These two parts will then move in different directions, both carrying out their individual tasks to fulfill the objective as a whole.
As ISRO is constantly monitoring the spacecraft’s health, it is duly noted that the spacecraft is, fortunately, in its “intended” orbit, as highlighted by ISRO time and time again.
