According to ISRO, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is due to enter lunar orbit today, August 5, after traveling almost two-thirds of the distance to the Moon since its launch on July 14.
Around 7 p.m. today, the Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI) is scheduled. The space agency reports that the health of the spacecraft is normal and that an attempt will be made on August 23 to make a gentle landing on the lunar surface.
The planned activity is the separation of the Propulsion Module and Lander, which is slated for August 17. Before the start of the power descent phase, a series of deboost maneuvers are planned with the goal of a smooth landing on the moon.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission acts as a launching pad for Isro’s next interplanetary projects, exhibiting key capabilities and establishing the foundation for the ensuing exploration of our solar system’s neighboring planets.
