ISRO successfully completes final orbit-raising operation for Chandrayaan-3 mission
What's the story
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully pulled off the final orbit-raising maneuver for Chandrayaan-3.
In total, the space agency has carried out five such "Earth-bound perigee firing" maneuvers since the mission's launch, which happened on July 14.
The spacecraft is now expected to achieve a target orbit of 1,27,609x236km, which ISRO will confirm after making observations.
Twitter Post
Today's was the fifth and final orbit-raising maneuver for Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) July 25, 2023
The orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound perigee firing) is performed successfully from ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru.
The spacecraft is expected to attain an orbit of 127609 km x 236 km. The achieved orbit will be confirmed after the observations.
The next… pic.twitter.com/LYb4XBMaU3
Upcoming
The mission's next operation happens on August 1
Chandrayaan-3's next operation, called TransLunar Injection (TLI), is scheduled for August 1.
That will put the spacecraft on a trajectory where the Moon's gravity will eventually draw it toward the lunar orbit.
The mission is expected to reach its planned location, the Moon's south pole by August 23.
It is designed to soft-land and if successful, will record a major milestone.