Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has officially announced the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3, as the spacecraft GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) soared into orbit with precision.
Following the separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle, ISRO scientists confirmed its successful injection into the intended orbit, marking the initiation of its momentous journey towards the Moon.
In a tweet, ISRO declared, “Chandrayaan-3, now in its precise orbit, has embarked on its journey to the Moon. The spacecraft is in good health.”
The highly anticipated launch unfolded flawlessly, with the GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle lifting off at the scheduled time of 14:35 p.m. on Friday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The spacecraft is anticipated to reach the Moon after approximately a month-long voyage from Earth, with the projected landing scheduled for August 23. Upon touchdown, Chandrayaan-3 will operate for one lunar day, equivalent to roughly 14 Earth days. During this period, its scientific instruments will scrutinise the lunar surface, further enriching our understanding of the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, which encountered challenges during its attempted soft landing on the lunar surface in 2019 and was ultimately unable to achieve its primary mission objectives.
By persisting with the Chandrayaan programme, ISRO showcases its commitment to advancing lunar exploration and acquiring valuable insights through the scientific instrumentation aboard Chandrayaan-3. As it covers a distance exceeding 300,000 km, the spacecraft will make its way towards the Moon in the forthcoming weeks, contributing to the expansion of our knowledge about Earth’s celestial neighbour.
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