Chandrayaan-3 Lander to Begin Descent for Moon Landing

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has made a major advancement in its ambitious lunar endeavor. The Lander Module, which carries the Pragyan rover, has effectively detached from the Propulsion Module, marking a crucial milestone. This separation maneuver has set the mission on course for an extraordinary gentle touchdown on the moon’s south pole, slated for August 23.

Preparing for landing

The Lander Module consisting of the Vikram lander and the Pragyan driver is now ready to enter a lower orbit, pulling it closer to the lunar surface. The eagerly awaited soft landing is scheduled for next Wednesday at 17:47.

As the lander separated from its mother ship, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) humorously remarked, “Thanks for the ride, mate!” The separation of the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module will begin the de-powering procedure scheduled for the following day at around 16:00 IST. This deboost process involves a controlled reduction in the speed of the module.

After separation, the lander undergoes a de-boost maneuver that slows it down and aligns it in orbit with the 30 km Perilune (closest to the Moon) and the 100 km Apolune (farthest point). From this trajectory, the historic soft landing attempt will be guided over the south polar region of the moon.

The unique mission of Chandrayaan-3

Chandrayaan-3, which cost an estimated Rs. 600 crore, started its journey on July 14, completing a complicated 41-day journey to reach the elusive South Pole of the Moon.

The significance of this mission lies in its goal of demonstrating a safe and controlled landing on the lunar surface, which enables rover exploration and in situ scientific research. Chandrayaan-2 faced challenges during its lunar phase, but Chandrayaan-3 aims to overcome this setback and gain control over soft landing technology, an area currently occupied by the US, China and the former Soviet Union.

Russia’s Luna-25 is also ready to land on the moon in the same time frame, which will intensify the competition in the search for the moon. The uncharted terrain of the Moon’s south pole offers both challenges and potential scientific discoveries, including the presence of water in the shadow regions.

The crucial deboosting phase

The upcoming deboost process marks a pivotal moment in Chandrayaan-3’s journey, setting the stage for a historic soft landing. This mission is a testament to India’s progress in space technology and its pursuit of scientific excellence on the lunar frontier.