Countdown Begins For Chandrayaan-3 Launch: India Aims For Successful Moon Landing

Countdown for India's third mission to the moon , Chandrayaan-3 , began on Thursday at 1.05 pm at the Satish Dhawan Spaceport in Sriharikota . The critical 25-hour 30-minute countdown will involve filling the rockets with cryogenic fuel, closely monitored by the Indian Space Research Organisation to ensure no fuel leaks occur.

A successful Chandrayaan-3 mission would place India in the esteemed company of nations that have achieved lunar exploration, namely the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. Chandrayaan-2 , India's previous mission, successfully reached the Moon but encountered issues during the soft landing phase due to software and mechanical problems.

Over the past four years, scientists have diligently addressed and resolved these issues, instilling hope for a successful soft landing this time.

The launch of Chandrayaan-3 has been authorised for 2.35 pm, and the weather conditions are expected to be favourable.

ISRO Officials Seek Lord Venkateswara's Blessings Ahead Of Launch

ISRO chairman S Somanath and senior officials paid a customary visit to the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, prior to the launch. They presented a miniature model of the rocket and spacecraft, seeking blessings. Seeking the deity's blessings before satellite launches in Sriharikota is an age-old tradition followed by ISRO. Somanath expressed confidence in the success of the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission, stating that preparations are in place.

“It is a long journey. We will be ready for landing on the moon possibly by the last week of August. The landing date is decided when there is sunrise on the moon. When we are landing, sunlight must be there. So the landing will be on August 23 or 24,” Somnath said.

Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission, comprises an indigenous lander module (LM), propulsion module (PM), and a rover. Its primary objective is to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies necessary for inter-planetary missions.

Details On The Mission Route

ISRO has stated that the lander is equipped to make a gentle touchdown at a designated location on the moon. Once landed, it will release a rover that will conduct on-site chemical analysis of the lunar surface while moving across it. Both the lander and the rover carry scientific instruments to perform experiments during their mission on the moon.

As per Somanath's statement in the media, "This is being done to get more stability," the LVM3 will place Chandrayaan-3 at an apogee of 36,500km, compared to the 45,475km achieved during Chandrayaan-2. The perigee will remain approximately 170km, similar to the previous mission.

Afterward, ISRO will perform several Earth-bound manoeuvres to raise the orbit of Chandrayaan-3. These manoeuvres aim to prepare the spacecraft for trans-lunar insertion (TLI), a critical step that will initiate its voyage towards the Moon.

Upon Chandrayaan-3's arrival in the moon's orbit, the propulsion module will detach from the lander module. The lander module will then be manoeuvred to achieve a 100km X 30 km orbit. On August 23, commands will be initiated for de-boost and the final descent. Notable enhancements include reinforced legs, additional sensors, and improved solar panels on the lander. Additionally, ISRO has expanded the landing area, which is a significant modification for the mission.

“In Chandrayaan-2, the landing site was 500m X 500m and we wanted to land at the centre, which resulted in some limitations. Now, the landing site is 4km X 2.5km. At nominal conditions, we’ll attempt landing at the centre point, but otherwise, Vikram can land anywhere in this area, giving it greater flexibility,” Somanath was quoted in the media.