India’s Chandrayaan-3 Shares First Visuals, After Successfully Entering Lunar Orbit

India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, which was launched on July 14, has successfully entered the Moon’s orbit, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The spacecraft shared its proximity to the Moon by playfully saying, “I am feeling lunar gravity.”
This marks a significant achievement as it positions the mission for a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, scheduled for August 23.

Chandrayaan-3’s journey has been smooth so far. After a 22-day trip, it entered lunar orbit, setting the stage for a 41-day exploration of the Moon’s south pole – a feat no other nation has accomplished.

ISRO conducted a precise maneuver to position the spacecraft within the Moon’s gravitational pull, resulting in an orbit ranging from 288 kilometers to 369,328 kilometers away from Earth.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to securely land a rover on the Moon’s southern polar area. This rover will collect surface materials for about 14 Earth days after landing.

The mission’s primary goal, with an estimated cost of about Rs. 615 crore, is to conduct experiments on the lunar surface.
If successful, India will become the fourth country, after the US, China, and Russia, to achieve a safe landing on the Moon’s surface.

ISRO’s accomplishment is part of India’s ongoing lunar exploration efforts, following the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which faced challenges during its soft landing attempt in 2019.

Chandrayaan-3’s successful lunar orbit entry demonstrates the country’s growing expertise in space exploration and its commitment to advancing our understanding of the Moon and beyond.

Former ISRO scientist Tapan Mishra has revealed that India’s rockets are not powerful enough for the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, so a sling-shot mechanism was used for launch.

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The spacecraft successfully entered the Lunar orbit on Saturday, marking a significant achievement for India in space exploration. Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar exploration mission and was launched on July 14.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is expected to achieve a safe and soft landing on the moon’s surface, conduct scientific experiments, and explore the possibility of life on other planets.
After the success of this mission, India will become the 4th country to land a spacecraft on the moon, following the US, China, and Russia.