Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft nears moon's orbit with successful lunar injection, soft landing attempt set for August 23

ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, launched on July 14, has made significant progress in its journey towards the Moon, covering about two-thirds of the distance so far, according to ISRO's update on Friday. Over the past three weeks, the spacecraft has undergone five orbital maneuvers, progressively moving farther away from Earth.

On August 1, a critical slingshot maneuver was executed successfully, propelling the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft from Earth's orbit towards the Moon. This trans-lunar injection allowed the spacecraft to break free from Earth's gravitational pull and set it on course towards the Moon's vicinity.

The next crucial step is the Lunar Orbit Injection (LOI), scheduled for around 7 pm on August 5. During this maneuver, the spacecraft will be inserted into the Moon's orbit when it is at the closest point to the lunar surface (perilune).

ISRO has reassured that India's third lunar mission is in good health, and the agency plans to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface on August 23. The progress made by Chandrayaan-3 demonstrates ISRO's commitment to lunar exploration and reinforces India's presence in space exploration endeavors.