Chandrayaan-3 Successfully Launched: Anticipated Date Revealed

India achieved a significant milestone in its space exploration journey as Chandrayaan-3, the country’s third mission to the moon, was successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch marks India’s rapid expansion in space exploration since its initial moon mission back in 2008. The mission’s lander, Vikram, will be accompanied by the rover Pragyan for a soft landing on the moon’s south pole. The primary objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to demonstrate the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) capability to achieve a successful lunar landing, while also collecting crucial data about the lunar surface through its payloads.

The anticipated landing of the mission is scheduled for August 23 at 5:47 pm, following a 42-day journey. The chosen date takes into account the availability of sunlight on the moon. Specific days during which the moon’s south pole lacks sunlight make it impractical for the lander’s solar panels to charge. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances causing a delay, ISRO would reschedule the landing for the following month, September.

Once Chandrayaan-3 successfully accomplishes its mission, India will join the ranks of the United States, China, and Russia as the fourth country to achieve a lunar spacecraft landing. This achievement will showcase India’s proficiency in executing safe and gentle landings on the lunar surface. Weighing approximately 3,900 kilograms, Chandrayaan-3 is equipped with a lander, a rover, and a propulsion module.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his enthusiasm for this remarkable mission, stating in a tweet, “This remarkable mission will carry the hopes and dreams of our nation.”

The development phase of Chandrayaan-3 commenced in January 2020, with the initial launch planned for sometime in 2021. However, due to the unforeseen delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the mission’s progress was temporarily halted.