In Pics: Chandrayaan-3 Lander Shares First Photos After Detaching From Spacecraft

Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander underwent a crucial deboosting manoeuvre and descended to a slightly lower orbit on Friday, after successfully getting separated from the propulsion module the day before. The deboosting manoeuvre was scheduled at around 1600 IST.

The lander itself is named after Vikram Sarabhai, a distinguished figure often referred to as the architect of India's space program. As part of the final preparations, the spacecraft executed the ultimate lunar-bound orbit reduction maneuver, taking a step closer to its scheduled landing date.

Employing the GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle, the spacecraft embarked on its journey to lunar orbit on August 5th, navigating through a series of intricate orbital adjustments. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, aimed at a secure and gentle lunar touchdown, rover exploration on the moon's surface, and on-site scientific investigations, is an ambitious endeavor with an approved budget of Rs 250 crores. 

Despite unexpected delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ISRO's resolve remains steadfast. Chandrayaan-3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, which encountered challenges during its 2019 lunar landing attempt. 

The assurance from ISRO's Chairman, S Somanath, regarding the mission's steady progress further strengthens the anticipation for the upcoming landing. As we look forward to this crucial event, it's worth noting that the moon holds a repository of Earth's history and a successful lunar mission could not only improve our understanding of our own planet's past but also pave the way for deeper explorations within our solar system and beyond. 

While previous lunar missions typically centered on the equatorial region due to favorable conditions, the challenging and diverse terrain of the lunar south pole sets Chandrayaan-3's aspirations apart.

The approved cost of Chandrayaan-3 is Rs 250 crores (excluding launch vehicle cost). Chandrayaan-3’s development phase commenced in January 2020 with the launch planned sometime in 2021. On Wednesday, the spacecraft carried out the final lunar-bound orbit reduction manoeuvre of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, a week ahead of its scheduled landing on the south pole of the moon on August 23.