Chandrayaan 3 launch live updates: Launch successful, journey to moon begins
Sriharikota (ET) – India launched its ambitious third lunar mission Chandrayaan 3, eyeing a rare feat in moon exploration so far only accomplished by the likes of the US, China and the former Soviet Union.
Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) third lunar expedition in 15 years, the hugely anticipated Chandrayaan 3 embarked on its month-long journey towards the moon,
piggybacking ISRO’s latest heavy lift launch vehicle, ‘Fat boy’ LVM3-M4 from Sriharikota.
The soft landing of the payload, the most challenging part of the mission, is planned for late August. Chandrayaan 2 could not achieve this objective when communication with the Lander ‘Vikram’ was lost.
Chandrayaan-2 failed to achieve the desired soft landing on the moon surface in 2019, leaving the ISRO team dejected. Images of an emotional then ISRO chief K Sivan being consoled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present to achieve the rare feat, remains vivid in the memory of many.
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Scientists at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, after investing many hours of hardwork, now aim at mastering the technology of soft-landing on the surface of the moon.
ISRO is crossing new frontiers by demonstrating soft-landing on the lunar surface by its lunar module and demonstrating roving on the lunar terrain, the space agency said.
The mission is expected to be supportive to future interplanetary missions.
ISRO chief S Somanath says, “Chandrayaan-3 has started its journey towards the moon. Our dear LVM3 has already put Chandrayaan-3 craft into the precise around earth…Let us wish all the best for the Chandrayaan-3 craft to make its farther orbit raising manoeuvres and travel towards the moon in the coming days…”
ISRO releases stunning photos of Chandrayaan-3’s lift off
Chandrayaan-3 mission:
The ‘Launch Rehearsal’ simulating the entire launch preparation and process lasting 24 hours has been concluded.Mission brochure: https://t.co/cCnH05sPcW pic.twitter.com/oqV1TYux8V
— ISRO (@isro) July 11, 2023