ISRO Successfully Performs Fourth Orbit-Raising Manoeuvre Of Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone in the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission with the successful execution of its fourth orbit-raising maneuver. The announcement was made on Thursday, signifying a crucial advancement in India's ambitious lunar exploration.

The maneuver, termed 'Earth-bound perigee firing', was skillfully executed from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru. This achievement propels the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft closer to its ultimate destination - the Moon. The next firing is scheduled for July 25, 2023, between 2 and 3 pm IST, as part of the ongoing mission operations.

Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, aboard an LVM3-M4 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Merely seventeen minutes after lift-off, the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit. The successful completion of the fourth orbit-raising maneuver follows the previous successful third maneuver, which took place earlier in the same week.

Project director P Veeramuthuvel said that ISRO would continue to closely monitor and control the spacecraft from ISTRAC throughout its journey.

Chandrayaan-3 is equipped with scientific instruments designed to study various aspects of the lunar surface. These instruments are aimed at investigating the thermophysical properties of the lunar regolith, lunar seismicity, the lunar surface plasma environment, and the elemental composition in the vicinity of the Moon's landing site.