ISRO injects Chandrayaan-3 into translunar orbit

ISRO injects Chandrayaan-3 into translunar orbit: The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, India’s third lunar exploration mission, has made an important accomplishment by entering the moon’s sphere of influence. This successful entry was made possible through a TransLunar Injection (TLI) executed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The next critical stage is the August 5 Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI), during which the spacecraft’s liquid engine will be triggered once more to position it into lunar orbit.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz: August 2023

Successful TransLunar Injection from Bengaluru

The TransLunar Injection (TLI) was carried out by ISRO’s Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, allowing Chandrayaan-3 to safely finish its orbits of Earth and begin the journey to the Moon. The spacecraft’s health status has been confirmed as normal, ensuring a promising start to its lunar mission.

TransLunar Injection (TLI)

The Trans Lunar Injection (TLI) is a vital maneuver executed in space missions to propel spacecraft from Earth’s orbit onto a trajectory leading them to the Moon. This pivotal step in lunar missions allows spacecraft to break free from Earth’s gravitational force and commence their journey towards the Moon. TLI is precisely carried out when the spacecraft reaches a specific position in its orbit, referred to as ‘perigee,’ denoting the closest proximity to Earth

Final Lunar Orbit Separation

After the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI), the mission entails four more planned orbital maneuvers to position the spacecraft at an approximate distance of 100 km from the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module (LM), a propulsion module (PM), and a rover. The projected separation of the PM and LM is slated for August 17, followed by a series of deboost manoeuvres to prepare for the powered descent phase, with the goal of landing gently on the lunar surface.

Moon Landing Date

The spacecraft is scheduled to make a touchdown on the moon’s surface at 5.47 p.m. on August 23. This significant milestone will signify India’s ongoing advancement in lunar exploration and scientific discoveries.

Key takeaways for competitive examinations

• Chandrayaan-3 was launched on: 14 July 2023