The Chandrayaan-3 mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lifted off on Thursday, July 14 at 2.35 PM IST from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
If ISRO completes this mission successfully, it will join the United States, the former Soviet Union, and most recently China as the only three nations to have accomplished a soft landing on the moon.
Before making a successful Moon landing, both the Soviet Union and the United States lost numerous spacecraft in crashes. With the Chang’e-3 mission in 2013, China was the only nation to complete the mission successfully on its first try.
The spacecraft successfully launched from Earth and is currently travelling towards the Moon in an orbit around the planet.
According to P Veeramuthuvel, project director of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, it has a number of crucial events planned, including earth-bound manoeuvres, insertion into the lunar orbit, separation of the lander, a sequence of deboost manoeuvres, and a power descent phase for a soft landing.
The Launch Vehicle Mark-III, the most potent rocket operated by ISRO, is carrying the Chandrayaan-3 mission into orbit.
Two S2000 solid rocket boosters will supply the push needed for takeoff and power the launch vehicle. As soon as the solid boosters detach from the launch vehicle, the L110 liquid stage will take over. The vehicle will be powered by the CE25 cryogenic stage after the liquid stage has been separated.
On Twitter, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his opinions on the Chandrayaan-3 launch. “Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India’s space odyssey. It soars high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of every Indian. This momentous achievement is a testament to our scientists’ relentless dedication. I salute their spirit and ingenuity!” he wrote.
President Droupadi Murmu tweeted her sincere congratulations to the ISRO team and everyone who put in so much effort to pull off the feat. “It demonstrates the nation’s unwavering commitment to advancement in space science and technology. My best wishes for the success of the lunar mission,” she wrote.
