India’s Moon Mission to South Polar region, is on its final stages and LM is expected to reach moon surface at 5.47 pm on August 23,2023.
Lander Module (LM) separation from Propulsion Module (PM) into an orbit 153 km x 163 km (Representation Image)
Since the launch of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on July 14, the mission has reached it’s final stages to embark on their respective trajectories for Moon’s south polar region landing.
On August 17, The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed the successful separation of the lander module comprising Vikram (the Lander) and Pragyan (the Rover) from the propulsion module.
Subsequent to this separation, ISRO posted on its official platform X: “Thanks for the ride, mate!,, said the Lander Module (LM). LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST.”
From August 18 a complex series of de-boosting maneuvers will be executed to put Lander in an orbit of 30 km x100 km, Perilune (closest point to moon) will be 30 km and Apolune (farthest point) is at 100 km, once this achieved the crtical phase of soft landing will begin. And on August 23 at 5.47 p.m., the lander is expected to successfully touch down on the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3 is comprised of a lander module which is Vikram, propulsion module, and Rover, Pragyan. Propulsion module has done its work perfectly by taking Lander module to its desired orbit of 100-km from the moon.
According to ISRO’s description, “The lander is endowed with the capability for a gentle landing at a designated lunar site, enabling the deployment of the rover. The rover’s intended mobility entails in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface. Both the lander and rover are equipped with scientific instruments, aimed at conducting experiments on the lunar terrain.”
Additionally, the propulsion module features an added scientific payload, operational post-separation from the lander module. This payload’s operational lifespan spans from three to six months. Both the lander and the rover are designed for a mission duration corresponding to one lunar day, equivalent to 14 earth days.
Presently, the propulsion module continues its orbital trajectory, a trajectory that may persist for months or even years. The Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, housed within the Propulsion Module, is tasked with conducting a spectroscopic analysis of Earth’s atmosphere, specifically measuring polarization variations in cloud formations. The acquired data will contribute to identifying exoplanets suitable for human habitability. This payload is developed by the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, located in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS, launched its Luna-25 Moon Mission to South Polar region on August 10, which is expected to touch down moon’s surface on August 21, which will be 2 days earlier to Chandrayaan-3 and will have a mission life span of 1 year as per agency.
