Mumbai, August 22: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is aiming for the Moon with its lunar mission to achieve a successful soft landing with the launch of Chandrayaan-3. It would be one more feather in cap for ISRO if the landing is successful, as this endeavour places India on track to become the fourth nation globally to achieve this remarkable milestone, joining the company of the United States, Russia, and China. The lunar mission was launched effectively on July 14 via the GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.

On Friday, the gap between the Lander module (consisting of Lander Vikram and rover Pragyan) and the lunar surface will diminish even more. ISRO has revealed that through today's deboosting manoeuvre, the Chandrayaan-3 Lander will manoeuvre into an orbit characterized by the closest lunar point (Perilune) at 30 km and the farthest point (Apolune) at 100 km from the Moon. Chandrayaan 3 Moon Landing to Be Postponed? Here's What ISRO Official Says on Vikram Lander's Scheduled Soft Landing on Lunar Surface on August 23.

When Will Chandrayaan 3 Will Land on Moon?

Launched on July 14, the spacecraft is now primed for its scheduled moon landing on August 23. According to ISRO Chairman S Somanath, the most crucial phase of the landing involves transitioning the lander's velocity from 30 km altitude to the point of final landing. Additionally, a key challenge lies in reorienting the spacecraft from a horizontal to a vertical position. Somanath explained that, at the onset of the landing sequence, the velocity is approximately 1.68 km per second. However, this speed is aligned horizontally relative to the moon's surface. In the case of Chandrayaan-3, the spacecraft is nearly perpendicular, necessitating a shift to a vertical orientation.

Where Will It Land?

Between August 23 and 24, the Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission will successfully land close to the Moon’s under-explored south pole. ISRO developed the Chandrayaan-3, and its name, Vikram, comes from the Sanskrit word for “valour.” Pragyan, the Sanskrit word for “wisdom,” is the name of the rover. Chandrayaan 3 Moon Landing To Be Postponed From August 23? ISRO Scientist Shares Plan 'B', Says Lander Module's Soft Landing on Moon Could Be Shifted to August 27 if Factors Unfavourable (Watch Video).

What Will It Do After Landing?

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is expected to land on the moon at 5.47 pm on August 23, 2023. After landing, the rover will initiate a 14-day expedition, within which it will undertake pioneering experiments using its payloads, RAMBHA and ILSA. These experiments have been devised to provide scientists with better insights into the moon's atmospheric conditions and mineral makeup. The rover is also outfitted with advanced tools, including the LASER Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) and the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), both of which will scrutinise the chemical composition of the lunar terrain, rocks, and soil.

What Happened to Chandrayaan 2 During Landing Attempt?

The Chandrayaan-2 was sent to space on July 22, 2019. Chandrayaan-2 had failed in its lunar phase when its lander 'Vikram' crashed into the surface of the moon following anomalies in the braking system in the lander while attempting a soft landing on September 7, 2019. ISRO Chairman S Somanath pointed out three mistakes that led to the hard landing of Vikram. “The primary issues were, one, we had five engines which were used to give the reduction of the velocity, which is called the retardation. These engines developed higher thrust than what was expected,” Somanath had told reporters.

Race to Moon's south pole is witnessing a tough fight with India's Chandrayaan-3 and Russia's Luna-25 gearing up for lunar landings next week. The proximity possibly overlaps, with Luna-25 aiming for a landing window between August 21 and 23 and Chandrayaan-3 targeting a possible landing date between August 23 and 24.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2023 05:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).