ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 set to take one more step closer to moon today

ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 is set to enter a new phase on Tuesday (July 25). After having completed its fourth orbit-raising manoeuvre from the Earth on July 20, Chandrayaan-3 will thrust into the fifth and final orbit-raising manoeuvre today.

What's new?

• Chandrayaan-3 will be getting further away from the Earth and a step closer to the moon. 
• Once the fifth and final orbit-raising manoeuvre is successfully complete, Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft will circle the Earth increasing its speed gradually to enter an Earth-to-Moon transfer orbit. 

The graphic below shared by ISRO depicts the movement of the spacecraft. 

• Chandrayaan-3 is expected to reach the moon around August 23 or 24. It will take about 10 days for the spacecraft to locate the landing spot. Then, the lander will make a soft landing on the Moon's South Pole region. 

Chandrayaan-3 had a successful liftoff on July 14 from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission is a continuation of the Chandrayaan-2 mission and has three goals: 

• to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the Moon's surface
• display rover operations on the Moon
• conduct on-site experiments on the lunar surface

There are various challenges when it comes to successfully landing on the Moon's South Pole region including low gravity, a lack of atmosphere, and deep space communication. If successful in its mission, India will join the ranks of the former Soviet Union, the US, and China to soft land on the Moon's South Pole region. ISRO's last try with Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 resulted in the lander crash landing on the Moon's surface. 

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