BENGALURU: Chandrayaan 3, India's proud lunar mission, has raised its orbit for the third time. The probe is currently in an orbit of 51,400 - 228 km. As part of the second phase, the probe was orbiting the Earth yesterday in an orbit of 41,603 - 226 km.
The orbit will be raised next between 2 and 3 pm on Thursday. After raising the orbit two more times, the probe will leave the Earth's magnetosphere and travel to the Moon. Instead of heading directly to the target after launch, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft will enter the Moon's magnetosphere by gradually raising its orbit around the Earth. That is why the mission takes more days. This method helps reduce fuel costs as well. The same method was followed in the Mangalyaan mission.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 18, 2023
The mission is on schedule.
The third orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully from ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru.
The next firing is planned for July 20, 2023, between 2 and 3 pm IST.
Many changes have been made in Chandrayaan-3 after learning lessons from Chandrayaan-3. The legs of the lander, which are the main component, were strengthened. Instead of an orbiter, the propulsion module will bring the lander and rover closer to the moon. The rover will separate immediately after the lander lands on the moon. Various instruments on the lander and rover will study the moon's gases and chemicals. Chandrayaan-3 will also set the course for India's future interplanetary missions.