Chandrayaan-3 Performs Significant Manoeuvre, Moves Closer To Moon's Surface: ISRO

Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission, executed a significant maneuver on Monday as it continues its journey toward the Moon's surface. This precise maneuver, conducted today, has successfully placed the spacecraft into a nearly circular orbit with dimensions of 150 km by 177 km.

As the mission progresses, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is orchestrating a series of maneuvers to gradually reduce Chandrayaan-3's orbit and position it over the lunar poles.

"Orbit circularisation phase commences. Precise maneuver performed today has achieved a near-circular orbit of 150 km x 177 km. The next operation is planned for August 16, 2023, around 0830 Hrs. IST," stated ISRO on X.

Within the framework of the Isro System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM), thorough assessments of all lunar-bound maneuvers for orbit reduction are being conducted to evaluate potential risks of close encounters with other lunar orbiters prior to executing these maneuvers.

On August 9, ISRO adjusted Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit with dimensions of 174 km by 1,437 km. Just three days prior, on August 6, following the insertion into a lunar orbit, the spacecraft's altitude at its farthest point from the Moon (Apolune) was lowered from 18,074 km to 4,313 km.

Since its launch on July 14, Chandrayaan-3 has completed a series of Earth-bound maneuvers between July 15 and 25, raising its altitude to over 1.2 lakh km at its farthest point from Earth (Apogee). The trans-lunar injection (TLI) on August 1 placed it on a trajectory toward the Moon at an altitude of nearly 3.6 lakh km. Subsequently, the lunar orbit insertion (LOI) was conducted on August 5, followed by three subsequent maneuvers.