Chandrayaan-3 Mission Progress Update

December 6, 2023

India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) recently announced that the propulsion module used for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, designed to carry the lander-rover to the moon, has successfully returned to an orbit around the Earth.

Experiment Overview

The experiment, initiated with the first orbit-raising maneuver on October 9, involved bringing the propulsion module back to Earth’s orbit after its role in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The propulsion module will remain in orbit around the Earth for a year. Isro sees this experiment as crucial for planning and executing trajectories back to Earth, a key aspect of future missions requiring successful lunar landings and return journeys.

Chandrayaan-3 Insights

While Isro has previously sent spacecraft to lunar orbit three times, this experiment marks the first instance of bringing a module back from the moon. This, coupled with a hop experiment at the end of the Chandrayaan-3 lander’s life, offers insights into Isro’s preparedness for future missions, demonstrating the capability to land, take off from the moon, and return to Earth.

Gravity Assist Flyby Innovation

Notably, this experiment represents Isro’s first demonstration of a gravity assist flyby not around Earth but another celestial body. Gravity assist flyby involves utilizing the gravitational force of a planet or celestial body to redirect and speed up a spacecraft, allowing for efficient trajectory planning.

Software Testing and Safety Measures

The experiment has served as a testing ground for software designed to plan such maneuvers. Bringing the propulsion module back to Earth is not only a safety measure to prevent collisions with the moon or other satellites in geostationary orbit but also showcases Isro’s commitment to responsible space practices.

Optimal Earth Return Trajectory

Isro revealed that the optimal Earth return trajectory was designed for October 2023, considering estimated fuel availability and ensuring the safety of geostationary satellites. The propulsion module’s journey involved multiple maneuvers, increasing the orbit around the moon before successfully reentering Earth’s sphere of influence on November 10.

SHAPE Payload’s Spectroscopic Study

The payload on-board the propulsion module, named SHAPE, will continue its spectroscopic study of Earth’s atmosphere from its new orbit. Designed for signals that could reveal markers of life on other planets, SHAPE’s observations contribute to scientific exploration beyond our solar system.

« Previous Post Next Post »