Chandrayaan 3 Moon Landing Today: Landing Timing, Where To Watch Live Actions of Landing- Know Details Here
Chandrayaan 3 Moon Landing Today: Landing Timing, Where To Watch Live Actions of Landing- Know Details Here
After Russia’s Luna-25 mission failed, all eyes will be on India as its Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the moon on August 23, 2023 (Wednesday), around 1804 IST.
In its latest update on Chandrayaan-3 soft landing, ISRO meanwhile said the mission is on schedule and systems are undergoing regular checks.
The live telecast of the landing operations will begin at 5:20 PM IST on Wednesday. Live actions of landing will be available on the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, Facebook, and public broadcaster DD National TV from 5:27 PM IST on Aug 23, 2023.
Along with the mission’s update, ISRO also released images of the moon captured by the Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC) from an altitude of about 70 km. These images assist the lander module in determining its position (latitude and longitude) by matching them against an onboard moon reference map.
Notably, the ‘Vikram’ lander module of the spacecraft successfully separated from the propulsion module on Thursday, and subsequently underwent crucial deboosting manoeuvres and descended to a slightly lower orbit. The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander is named after Vikram Sarabhai (1919–1971), who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme.
A GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle was used for the launch of the spacecraft that was placed in the lunar orbit on August 5 and since then it has been through a series of orbital manoeuvres been lowered closer to the moon’s surface.
How can I watch it?
The nation’s space program, the Indian Space Research Organization, will provide a livestream from the mission control room in Bengaluru. You can watch it on ISRO’s YouTube channel or website starting at 7:50 a.m. Eastern.
What is Chandrayaan-3?
Chandrayaan means “moon craft” in Hindi. In addition to the propulsion module that pushed the spacecraft into orbit around the moon, the landing module consists of the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover that will attempt to set down on the lunar surface in the moon’s south polar region. The mission is robotic and there are no astronauts aboard.
The Aug. 23 landing was selected because it is the day when the sun will rise at the landing site. The mission is to conclude two weeks later when the sun sets. While on the surface, the solar-powered lander and rover will use a range of instruments to make thermal, seismic and mineralogical measurements.
Why is India landing on the moon?
India’s space program is a source of national pride, as is the country’s growing cadre of commercial space start-ups. India’s recent efforts in space exploration also closely mirror the country’s diplomatic push as an ambitious power on the rise.
“Thanks to our scientists, India has a very rich history in the space sector,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Chandrayaan-3’s launch to the moon last month. “This remarkable mission will carry the hopes and dreams of our nation.”
But Chandrayaan-3 is also taking place amid renewed interest in exploring the moon. The United States and China are both aiming to send astronauts there in the coming years, and there are more robotic missions from Japan and the United States that could head there this year. Like India, many other lunar missions are aiming for the moon’s south polar region. Scientists believe it may contain water ice that could be used by astronauts in the future.
(With Inputs From Agencies)