Thanks For The Ride, Mate!: Chandrayaan-3 Lander Says As It Separates From Propulsion Module Successfully
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The Vikram lander module of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has been separated
from the propulsion module, marking a milestone in India's third lunar
mission. Photograph:(Twitter)
Chandrayaan-3 lander has been separated from the propulsion module
successfully. The Vikram lander will now undergo de-boosting, coming a step
closer to a planned soft landing on the moon.
Chandrayaan-3, India's lunar mission, has successfully completed the crucial
phase of separating the Lander Module (LM) and Propulsion Module (PM). The
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shared the mission update on X
(formerly Twitter) on Thursday (Aug 17).
The latest phase of the mission, which is Phase 5, was to conduct the
separation of the two modules carefully before sending the Lander Module to
lower moon orbit.
The ISRO shared a mission update on X, formerly Twitter: “‘Thanks for the
ride, mate! 👋’ said the Lander Module (LM). LM is successfully separated from
the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit
upon a de-boosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST.”
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 17, 2023
‘Thanks for the ride, mate! 👋’
said the Lander Module (LM).
LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM)
LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST.
Now, 🇮🇳 has3⃣ 🛰️🛰️🛰️… pic.twitter.com/rJKkPSr6Ct
The Vikram Lander module of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has been separated
from the propulsion module, marking a milestone in India's third lunar
mission.
Post its separation, the Lander will undergo a process of slowing down, known
as deboost, to place it in an orbit where the Peruline or the closest point to
the Moon is 30 km and Apolune or the farthest point from the Moon is 100 km.
Chandrayaan-3, which consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named
Pragyan similar to Chandrayaan-2, does not have an orbiter. Its Propulsion
Module behaves like a communication relay satellite. The Propulsion Module
carries the lander and rover configuration until the spacecraft is in a
100-kilometre (62 miles) lunar orbit.
Role of Propulsion Module (PM) After Separation
The propulsion module, other than carrying the Lander and Rover configuration
till about 100 km lunar orbit, also carries the Spectro-polarimetry of
Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study spectral and polarimetric
measurements of the Earth from lunar orbit.
After separating from the Lander Module, the Propulsion Module will continue
to study the Earth's atmosphere for months/years.
The main function of the PM was to carry the LM from launch vehicle injection
to the final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and separate the LM from the
PM.
Role of Lander Module (LM)
The Lander has the capability to soft-land at a specified lunar site and
deploy the Rover, which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar
surface during the course of its mobility.
The Lander and the Rover have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on
the lunar surface.
1. Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature
2. Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) for measuring the seismicity around the landing site
3. Langmuir Probe (LP) to estimate the plasma density and its variations
4. A passive Laser Retroreflector Array from NASA is accommodated for lunar laser ranging studies.
Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14 from India's spaceport, Satish Dhawan
Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Some 16 minutes after lift-off, the craft was placed in a highly elliptical
orbit around the Earth.
Thereafter, by performing five engine burns on as many occasions, the craft
gradually raised its orbit and slingshot itself further away from Earth, while
continuing to remain in the home planet's orbit.
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