The Chandrayaan-3 has successfully inserted into the lunar orbit, ISRO said on Saturday. The space agency said the next operation in the mission is scheduled for 11pm on Sunday.
“MOX, ISTRAC, this is Chandrayaan-3. I am feeling lunar gravity,” ISRO tweeted. “Chandrayaan-3 has been successfully inserted into the lunar orbit. A retro-burning at the Perilune was commanded from the Mission Operations Complex, ISTRAC, Bengaluru. The next operation – reduction of orbit – is scheduled for Aug 6, 2023, around 23.00Hrs,” the space organisation said.
The spacecraft’s orbit was progressively increased five times after the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon was launched on July 14. Chandrayaan-3 completed its orbits around the earth on August 1. According to ISRO, it would attempt soft-landing on the lunar surface on August 23.
During the launch of Chandrayaan-3 on July 14, ISRO chief S. Somanath said, “We are expecting it to enter into lunar orbit by August 1 and two-three weeks from then, separation of propulsion module and lander module will happen on August 17. The final descent is currently planned for August 23, at 5.47pm IST. That is the plan if it goes as per the schedule” he said.
