The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Thursday (Aug. 17) its Chandrayaan-3 moon lander is now flying on its own after separating from the propulsion module that brought it to lunar realms.India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander is flying on its own ahead of a historic landing attempt.
"Thanks for the ride, mate," ISRO officials tweeted from the mission's account, as the agency announced the successful deployment ahead of the expected moon-landing attChandrayaan-3 launched on July 14 into a highly elliptical, or oval-shaped Earth orbit. It gradually raised its altitude before an engine burn on July 31 to head for the moon. Then it entered orbit around the moon on Aug. 5.empt on Aug. 23.
The 6-billion-rupee (roughly $73 million) Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to bring India on to the surface with a precise landing near the moon's south pole. Only the United States, the former Soviet Union and China have made soft landings on the surface before.
The lander, called Vikram, carries on board a small rover called Pragyan. The mission calls for the duo to explore the surface for a lunar day (roughly 14 Earth days) until the dark, cold lunar night likely depletes both of their batteries.
The spacecraft will attempt India's first soft landing on the surface.
India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander is flying on its own ahead of a historic landing attempt.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Thursday (Aug. 17) its Chandrayaan-3 moon lander is now flying on its own after separating from the propulsion module that brought it to lunar realms.
"Thanks for the ride, mate," ISRO officials tweeted from the mission's account, as the agency announced the successful deployment ahead of the expected moon-landing attempt on Aug. 23.
