ISRO successfully executed fifth Earth-bound perigee firing

by Psu Connect
Date: 25-07-23

The space agency further announced that the next crucial step, known as the TransLunar Injection (TLI), is scheduled for August 1, 2023, between the hours of midnight and 1 am IST.

ISRO successfully executed fifth Earth-bound perigee firing

New Delhi: On Tuesday, July 25, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully executed the fifth Earth-bound perigee firing, or orbit-raising manoeuvre, of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.

This pivotal operation was conducted from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) based in Bengaluru.

Once all observations are made, the spacecraft is anticipated to reach an orbit of 127609 km x 236 km, as stated by ISRO.

The space agency further announced that the next crucial step, known as the TransLunar Injection (TLI), is scheduled for August 1, 2023, between the hours of midnight and 1 am IST.

Chandrayaan-3, India's ambitious third lunar mission, was successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:35 PM on July 14. The mission was carried into the Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO) by the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3)-M4, with the satellite being precisely positioned into the intended orbit just 17 minutes after lift-off.

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft encompasses an indigenous propulsion module, a lander module, and a rover. The mission's primary objective is to develop and demonstrate the new technologies required for future inter-planetary missions. Additionally, it carries the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) payload, designed to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.

According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 will undertake a 42-day journey to the Moon, with a soft landing expected to occur on either August 23 or August 24, 2023. After landing, the spacecraft will operate for a single lunar day, equivalent to around 14 Earth days.