Chandrayaan-3’s Successful Soft Landing on Moon Marks India’s Moonshot Achievement

• ByStartupStory     |    August 23, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful soft landing of the Lander Module (LM) of Chandrayaan-3, its third lunar mission. Launched on July 14, the LM effectively touched down on the Moon’s surface on August 23, following its intended trajectory, as confirmed by the space organization.

A pivotal step in this accomplishment was the ISRO’s successful execution of the first deboosting operation on August 18, which led to an orbit reduction to 113 km x 157 km. This operation occurred a day after the lander module separated from the propulsion module, culminating a 34-day journey towards the Moon. Subsequently, on August 20, the ISRO conducted the second and final deboost of the Lander Module, further reducing its orbit to 25 km x 134 km.

The Lander Module, housing a Rover, now resides in a 25 km x 134 km orbit, poised to touch down on the Moon at approximately 6:04 p.m. IST on August 23. The anticipated powered descent is set to commence around 5:45 p.m.

As the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module neared its crucial soft landing on the Moon’s surface, the ISRO affirmed that the mission remained on track. The organization shared, “The mission is on schedule. Systems are undergoing regular checks. Smooth sailing is continuing. The Mission Operations Complex (MOX) is buzzed with energy & excitement!” through its social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

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