The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is now in a 1,27,609 km x 236 km orbit around Earth, preparing for its Translunar Injection (TLI).
The TLI, scheduled for August 1, 2023, will slingshot the spacecraft towards the Moon, marking the beginning of its lunar journey.
Chandrayaan-3 successfully executed its fifth and final Earth-bound orbit-raising maneuver on July 25, positioning itself for this crucial next step. This maneuver performed from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
It follows the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which, despite a software glitch causing the Vikram lander to veer off course, managed to send an orbiter that continues to study the Moon from above.
The upcoming mission’s lander and rover are similar in design to those from the Chandrayaan-2 mission. However, ISRO has upgraded the lander’s software and performed numerous tests to ensure that Chandrayaan-3 goes according to plan.