Chandrayaan-3 Hits Milestone as Vikram Lander Detaches from Spacecraft's Propulsion Module
Key Highlights :
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved a major milestone on Thursday when the Vikram lander detached from the spacecraft's propulsion module. The spacecraft will remain in orbit for a few more days before the lander and rover, Pragyaan, attempt to land on the Moon on August 23. If successful, this achievement will significantly bolster India's space ambitions and make it the first nation to achieve a successful landing on the Moon's south pole.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had announced that the imminent separation of the landing module, housing Vikram and Pragyan, from the propulsion module by ISRO, will take place on August 17. After the fifth and final lunar orbit manoeuvre was accomplished on Wednesday, another manoeuvre was slated for Thursday, designed for the separation of the lander. This action required Vikram to be repositioned into an elliptical orbit.
Subsequent manoeuvres were executed by ISRO to precisely adjust the landing module's trajectory to achieve this feat. The meticulously planned de-boost manoeuvres positioned Vikram into an orbit characterized by a Perilune (closest point to the Moon) of 30km and an Apolune (farthest point from the Moon) of 100km. It is from this particular orbital configuration that the ultimate landing endeavor will be undertaken.
India eagerly awaits a successful soft landing that could elevate the nation to new heights in this field. The soft landing isn't obviously an easy task as there are a series of complex manoeuvres involved consisting of rough and fine braking. Following the soft landing, the six-wheeled rover will perform experiments on the lunar surface for a period of one lunar day, which is equal to 14 days on earth.
Chandrayaan-3 marks India's determined resurgence after past setbacks and disappointments. The mission's success will be a significant achievement for the country, demonstrating its capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to advancing science and technology. With the world eagerly anticipating the upcoming phases culminating in the highly anticipated landing attempt, India is set to push the boundaries of scientific exploration and discovery.
