The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Tuesday that its lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, has completed its orbits around the Earth and is now en route to the Moon.
“A successful perigee-firing performed at ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network). ISRO has injected the spacecraft into the translunar orbit,” the agency said. The key manoeuvre was carried out early Tuesday to slingshot the spacecraft towards the Moon.
“Chandrayaan-3 completes its orbits around the Earth and heads towards the moon,” the national space agency stated, adding, “Next stop: the Moon.” The Lunar-Orbit Insertion is planned for August 5, 2023, according to ISRO.
An ISRO official explained to PTI that following the trans-lunar injection, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft escaped Earth’s orbit and is now on a trajectory that will bring it into the vicinity of the Moon.
ISRO previously mentioned its plans to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface on August 23. The spacecraft’s orbit was progressively increased five times since the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon on July 14.
