Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Set to Launch Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of its third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, scheduled for today at 2:35 pm. The countdown for the mission began smoothly at 1:05 pm yesterday and has been progressing without any issues. The 43.5-meter tall LVM3 rocket, weighing 642 tons and carrying the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, will lift off from the second launch pad at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
This mission marks the fourth operational flight of the LVM3 rocket, with the primary objective of deploying the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit just 16 minutes after liftoff. The weather conditions are favorable for the scheduled launch, and the process of filling up the liquid and cryogenic stages is nearing completion. The rocket consists of a solid stage, followed by a liquid fuel stage, and the third and final stage is the cryogenic stage powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
The satellite will embark on an elliptical path, ensuring the correct trajectory to reach the moon within a month’s time, covering a distance of 384,000 kilometers. After reaching the moon, the lander carried by the spacecraft is expected to make a soft landing, followed by the deployment of a 26-kilogram rover that will conduct experiments on the lunar surface. The mission aims to study the Earth from lunar orbit, measure the near-surface and density changes, analyze the thermal properties of the lunar surface near the polar region, monitor lunar seismic activity around the landing site, and study the structure of the lunar crust and mantle.
The launch of Chandrayaan-3 is a significant milestone for ISRO and the Indian space program, representing another step forward in exploring the mysteries of the moon and expanding our understanding of lunar dynamics. The mission holds great scientific potential and showcases India’s commitment to space exploration and research.
