The launch automobile Mark-3 of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) carrying LVM3-M4/Chandrayaan-3 Moon Mission (the third lunar exploration mission) was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in SHAR (Sriharikota High Altitude Range).
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully completed the fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre (earth-bound perigee firing) of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The house company stated, “India celebrates International Moon Day 2023 by propelling Chandrayaan-3 step closer to the Moon. The fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre (earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully from ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru.”
ISRO stated Chandrayaan-3 had attained an orbit of 71351 km x 233 km orbit, as meant.
This implies that Chandrayaan-3 is now in an orbit, which when closest to earth is at 233 km and farthest at 71,351 km.
Chandrayaan-3 was successfully launched by the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) when it took off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 2.35 p.m. on July 14 and positioned at an elliptic parking orbit of 36,500 km x 170 km.
Four orbit-raising manoeuvres have now been completed and the following firing is deliberate for July 25 between 2 and three p.m. IST.
After the launch on July 14, ISRO Chairman S. Somnath stated all earth-bound manoeuvres can be performed until July 31. Thereafter, the trans lunar insertion would happen on August 1. The lander of the mission is deliberate to soft-land on the floor of the moon on August 23 at 5.47 p.m.
