Chandrayaan-3, India’s third Moon mission, has covered two-thirds of the distance to the Moon. The spacecraft successfully completed its fourth orbit-raising maneuver on July 20, 2023, and is now in a lunar transfer orbit. This means that it is on track to reach the Moon on August 23-24, 2023.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a major milestone for India’s space program. It is the country’s first attempt to soft land on the Moon’s south pole, which is a region that has not been explored by any other country. The mission is also the first time that India will be sending a rover to the Moon.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft consists of a lander called Vikram, a rover called Pragyaan, and a propulsion module. The lander will touch down on the Moon’s surface, and the rover will then roll out to explore the surrounding area. The propulsion module will act as a communication relay satellite between the lander and rover.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is expected to last for one year. During this time, the lander and rover will conduct a variety of experiments to study the Moon’s surface and atmosphere. They will also look for signs of water ice, which could be a valuable resource for future human exploration of the Moon.
The successful launch and progress of the Chandrayaan-3 mission is a major achievement for India’s space program. It demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in space exploration, and it puts the country in a strong position to compete with other spacefaring nations in the years to come.