The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently achieved a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program. On Wednesday, ISRO successfully integrated the encapsulated assembly containing Chandrayaan-3 with the launch vehicle, LVM3, at the renowned Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This development marks a crucial step towards the upcoming lunar mission.
Launch Date Set for July 13-19
Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre witnessed the monumental occasion as the encapsulated assembly was mated with LVM3. In a tweet, ISRO announced the integration of Chandrayaan-3 and shared details about the launch day. The space agency’s chairman, S Somnath, disclosed to ANI that they are planning to initiate the third lunar mission sometime between July 13 and July 19. This ambitious project aims to achieve a soft landing on the moon, a feat that would be a significant milestone for India’s space exploration efforts.
Chandrayaan-3’s Launch Date Revised to June 2023
Initially, ISRO had projected a launch date for Chandrayaan-3 in June 2023. Chairman S Somnath provided insights into the mission’s progress during a press conference. He mentioned that Chandrayaan-3 is nearly prepared for launch, with final integration and testing almost complete. However, a few remaining tests are pending, prompting the decision to delay the launch. ISRO had two available slots for the launch, one in February and another in June, and they opted for the June 2023 slot to ensure thorough preparation and successful execution of the mission.
Chandrayaan-2’s Setback
India’s previous lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, faced a setback during its journey to the moon. Launched on July 22, 2019, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, the mission encountered an unfortunate incident. The Vikram lunar lander crashed on the moon’s surface during the early hours of September 6, leading to the mission’s failure. Despite this setback, ISRO remains committed to advancing its lunar exploration program and is determined to learn from past experiences to ensure the success of future missions.
ISRO’s recent integration of Chandrayaan-3 with the launch vehicle, LVM3, signifies a crucial step towards India’s third lunar mission. With a revised launch date set for July 13-19, the mission aims to achieve a soft landing on the moon. Despite the setback faced during Chandrayaan-2, ISRO remains focused on expanding its knowledge of lunar exploration and is diligently preparing for the launch of Chandrayaan-3 in June 2023.
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