Chandrayaan-3 | ISRO One Step Away From Landing On Moon As Lander Module Completes Second Deboost Operation 

Chandrayaan-3, the chairman of ISRO, Mr. Somanath, mentioned that if the scheduled landing on August 23rd does not occur as intended, ISRO will postpone the attempt and aim for a landing in September after waiting for an additional month.

India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, has achieved a significant milestone as its Lander Module successfully executed its second and final deboost maneuver during the early hours of August 20. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) carried out this operation to bring the Lander Module’s orbit down to 25 km x 134 km.

ISRO officially announced, “Chandrayaan-3 Mission: The second and final deboosting operation has successfully reduced the LM orbit to 25 km x 134 km.” The first deboosting operation occurred on August 18, reducing the orbit to 113 km x 157 km. This initial operation took place a day after the Lander Module separated from the propulsion module, marking the end of a 34-day journey to the Moon.

With both deboosting operations completed as planned, the highly anticipated landing of the Lander carrying the Rover is scheduled for August 23. Following the final deboost maneuver, the Lander Module will undergo internal checks while waiting for sunrise at the designated landing site.

ISRO emphasized, “The module would undergo internal checks and await the sun-rise at the designated landing site.” This successful progress paves the way for the critical phase of the mission – the landing itself.

The powered descent for the landing is set to commence at 5:45 p.m. on August 23, 2023. ISRO made this announcement on its social media platform in the early hours of August 20. This marks a crucial moment in India’s space exploration journey, as the nation aims to achieve another successful lunar landing mission.

Chandrayaan 3 Live Update, Landing Date and Time

At 6:04 pm on August 23rd, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) revealed that individuals around the world with an interest in space exploration will be able to observe the Chandrayaan-3 landing. The live stream of the Chandrayaan-3 landing occurrence will be accessible through various platforms, including the official ISRO website, ISRO’s official YouTube channel, ISRO’s Facebook page, and DD National. The comprehensive coverage is set to commence at 5:27 p.m. on the same day, August 23rd.

Why wait for the sunrise?

In July, during the announcement of the Chandrayaan-3 mission launch date, S. Somanath, the Chairman of ISRO, mentioned that if the launch occurred on the specified date (July 14), the possibility of a moon landing by the last week of August would be on the table. The actual landing date is determined by the Moon’s sunrise, ensuring there’s adequate sunlight during the landing process. Accordingly, Mr. Somanath revealed that the planned landing date was set for August 23.

He further explained that should the landing not proceed as scheduled on August 23, ISRO’s strategy would involve waiting another month to attempt the landing in September.

Regarding the operational dynamics on the lunar surface, Mr. Somanath noted that both the Lander and the Rover would remain on the Moon for a span of 14 days, relying on sunlight for energy. In the absence of direct sunlight, a small solar panel on the Rover would generate power to charge the battery for the subsequent 14 days, until sunlight is once again available. Mr. Somanath acknowledged the extreme conditions on the Moon, with temperatures plummeting to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Despite these challenges, tests have given them confidence in the survival of the battery and electronic components even in such harsh environments.

Live Updates on Chandrayaan-3 and Recent Lunar Missions

Recent lunar missions from various countries include

INDIA

Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Unfortunately, this mission faced a setback when the Vikram lander crashed due to a software glitch.

Chandrayaan-3 (2023): The focus of this mission is on measuring the near-surface plasma density of the Moon, with the Vikram lander carrying a payload to assess seismic activity around the landing area. The rover payload’s objective is to analyze the elemental composition of lunar soil.

USA

Artemis II: Scheduled for 2024, this mission involves four astronauts exploring the Moon. It marks NASA’s initial step toward establishing a sustained lunar presence for scientific research and exploration through the Artemis program.

CHINA

China has plans for an unnamed lunar mission in 2030, which will be a crewed endeavor to the Moon.

RUSSIA

Russia’s LUNA-25 spacecraft, launched on August 10, is designed to collect samples from the lunar soil’s southern pole, akin to India’s Chandrayaan 3 mission.

JAPAN

In 2022, Japan’s space encountered failure with the Hakuto-R Mission. A rover from the UAE and a Japanese payload on a lander experienced a crash landing in December 2022.

ISRAEL

SpaceIL’s BEREsheet-1 lander mission faced a crash landing in 2019 due to engine failure. Looking forward to 2025, Israel plans another lunar mission, Beresheet 2, involving two landers and an orbiter, with the aim of achieving a successful lunar landing.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea launched the Danuri mission in August 2022. Since January 2023, the orbiter has been engaged in the study of the Moon after entering lunar orbit.

Why this mission is important?

The Chandrayaan-3 mission holds significant importance as it marks India’s second endeavor, led by the ISRO, to send a spacecraft to the southern polar region of the Moon. In 2019, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 faced a setback when the Vikram lander experienced a crash during its attempted soft landing on the lunar surface. The initial Chandrayaan mission was undertaken in 2008.

Chandrayaan-3 represents ISRO’s renewed optimism for achieving success in its mission objectives. The ISRO team has meticulously prepared to ensure a positive outcome, with the anticipated landing scheduled for August.

The Moon stands as a repository of Earth’s historical records, and the success of India’s lunar mission holds the potential to enrich our understanding of Earth’s history. Moreover, triumph in this lunar venture will not only contribute to advancements on Earth but will also serve as a stepping stone for India to explore the greater expanse of the solar system and beyond.

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