Chandrayaan-3: The Indian spacecraft has successfully entered into Moon's orbit, informed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday. Chandrayaan-3 is set to script a new chapter in India's space odyssey.
On the launch of Chandrayaan-3, Astronomer and Professor Dr RC Kapoor said, "On 14th July ISRO launched in space Chandrayaan-3 and since then we have been waiting with bated breath...On 1st August ISRO transferred Chandrayaan-3 into the lunar trajectory & today it will be inserted into the Lunar orbit. It means that its speed in its orbit will have to be reduced. A slight reduction in its speed means that it tends to fall towards the moon & in that process, it acquires an orbit towards the moon...Once lunar orbit insertion is successful we will wait for 17th August by which the orbit will have been circularised...On 23rd August in the evening, we are expecting a touchdown. We hope this time it is going to be successful..."
Chandrayaan-3 covered two-thirds of distance to Moon
Earlier on Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) informed that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has covered about two-thirds of the distance to the Moon since its launch on July 14.
Taking to Twitter, ISRO said that the Lunar Orbit Injection is set for around 7 pm on August 5. Over five moves in the three weeks since, ISRO has been lifting the spacecraft into orbits farther and farther away from Earth.
Trans-lunar injection
On August 1, the craft was sent successfully toward the Moon from Earth's orbit. After the trans-lunar injection, Chandrayaan-3 escaped from orbiting the Earth. The spacecraft then followed a path that took it to the vicinity of the moon.
Today, in another crucial manoeuvre, Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft will be injected into Moon's orbit.
Health of India's third lunar mission is normal
The manoeuvre will be performed when Chandrayaan-3 is at the closest point to the Moon (perilune), ISRO said. The space agency earlier said that the health of India's third lunar mission is normal and a soft landing on the lunar surface would be attempted on August 23.
(with inputs from PTI)
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