India’s Chandrayaan-3, the country’s third lunar exploration mission, has accomplished a major breakthrough by successfully executing the crucial TransLunar Injection (TLI) maneuver in space. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) deftly carried out this vital step, enabling the spacecraft to break free from Earth’s gravitational pull and set its trajectory towards the Moon. With this achievement, the lunar mission enters a crucial phase, preparing for the upcoming Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) scheduled for August 5, during which the spacecraft’s liquid engine will be engaged to position it into a lunar orbit.
The TLI maneuver is of paramount importance in lunar missions, propelling the spacecraft from Earth’s orbit and initiating its journey towards the Moon. This intricate process occurs when the spacecraft reaches a specific position in its orbit, known as ‘perigee,’ indicating the closest point to Earth. With the successful execution of TLI, Chandrayaan-3 is now ready to proceed with four more planned orbital maneuvers, positioning it approximately 100 km away from the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module (LM), a propulsion module (PM), and a rover. The next significant event in the mission is the PM and LM separation, scheduled for August 17, followed by a series of deboost maneuvers to prepare for the powered descent phase, aimed at achieving a gentle landing on the lunar surface.
The spacecraft is all set to make a historic touchdown on the moon’s surface at 5.47 p.m. on August 23. This momentous achievement will not only showcase India’s continuous progress in lunar exploration but also open doors for new scientific discoveries in space exploration. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 on July 14, 2023, heralds a new chapter in India’s space exploration endeavors.