The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has delighted space enthusiasts by sharing two captivating images captured by Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission. These images provide a glimpse of Earth and the Moon, showcasing the technological prowess and remarkable progress of the mission.
The first image offers a mesmerizing view of Earth, as observed by the Lander Imager (LI) camera on the day of the spacecraft’s launch. The Chandrayaan-3 embarked on its journey from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 14, 2:35 pm.
The second image, captured on August 6, features the Moon, skillfully imaged by the Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera (LHVC) on the spacecraft. Both the Lander Imager (LI) and Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera (LHVC) were crafted by the collaborative efforts of the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad and the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems in Bengaluru.
Recent updates from ISRO reveal that Chandrayaan-3 is progressively approaching the lunar surface. An orbit reduction maneuver was successfully executed, bringing the spacecraft’s orbit to 174 km x 1437 km. ISRO commemorated this achievement with a tweet stating, “Even closer to the moon’s surface. Chandrayaan-3’s orbit is reduced to 174 km x 1437 km following a maneuver performed today.”
The mission’s journey continues with the next operation scheduled for August 14, 2023, between 11:30 and 12:30 hrs.
Initiated by ISRO, the Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to showcase comprehensive capability in secure landing and exploration on the lunar terrain. Its primary objective revolves around achieving a safe lunar landing, followed by a series of scientific experiments designed to enhance our understanding of the Moon’s composition.
Remarkably, the space agency has set its sights on a soft landing attempt on the lunar surface, scheduled for August 23. If successful, India will join an elite group of countries – the United States, Russia, and China – to achieve this remarkable feat.
The release of the Moon’s image captured by Chandrayaan-3 signifies a pivotal moment in ISRO’s ambitious lunar exploration.
This venture follows Chandrayaan-2, which encountered a last-minute obstacle resulting in the lander’s crash after entering lunar orbit. As Chandrayaan-3 forges ahead, its progress brings India’s space endeavors to the forefront of global exploration and innovation.
