July 06, 2023: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the scheduled launch of Chandrayaan-3 for July 14, 2023, at 14:35 Hrs. IST from the Second Launch Pad, SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.
July 07, 2023: Vehicle electrical tests were successfully completed. Enthusiastic citizens were invited to witness the historic launch from the Launch View Gallery at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.
July 11, 2023: ISRO conducted the ‘Launch Rehearsal,’ simulating the entire launch preparation and process, which lasted 24 hours, ensuring that everything was in place for the big day.
July 14, 2023: The monumental day arrived. The LVM3 M4 vehicle successfully launched Chandrayaan-3 into orbit. With Chandrayaan-3 in its precise orbit, India’s journey to the Moon officially began. The health of the spacecraft was reported as normal.
July 15, 2023: The first orbit-raising maneuver, known as Earthbound firing-1, was successfully performed at ISTRAC/ISRO, Bengaluru. The spacecraft was now in a 41762 km x 173 km orbit.
July 17, 2023: The second orbit-raising maneuver was executed, placing the spacecraft in a 41603 km x 226 km orbit.
July 22, 2023: The fourth orbit-raising maneuver, Earth-bound perigee firing, was completed, and the spacecraft transitioned to a 71351 km x 233 km orbit.
July 25, 2023: Another orbit-raising maneuver was performed. The next significant step, the TransLunar Injection, was planned for August 1, 2023.
August 01, 2023: Chandrayaan-3 was inserted into the translunar orbit, achieving an orbit of 288 km x 369328 km. The Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) was scheduled for August 5, 2023.
August 05, 2023: A significant milestone was achieved as Chandrayaan-3 was successfully inserted into the lunar orbit. The orbit achieved was 164 km x 18074 km, as intended. A video showcasing the Moon as viewed by Chandrayaan-3 during the Lunar Orbit Insertion was released.
August 06, 2023: LBN#2 was successfully completed, placing the spacecraft in a 170 km x 4313 km orbit around the moon.
August 09, 2023: Chandrayaan-3’s orbit was reduced to 174 km x 1437 km following a maneuver.
August 14, 2023: The mission entered the orbit circularisation phase, with the spacecraft in a 151 km x 179 km orbit.
August 16, 2023: After the firing on this day, the spacecraft was in an orbit of 153 km x 163 km.
August 17, 2023: The Lander Module was successfully separated from the Propulsion Module, with deboosting planned for the next day.
August 19, 2023: The Lander Module was in a 113 km x 157 km orbit around the moon. The second de-boosting was scheduled for the following day.
August 20, 2023: The Lander Module entered a 25 km x 134 km orbit. The powered descent was expected to commence on August 23, 2023, around 1745 Hrs. IST.
August 23, 2023: A historic day for India and the world of space exploration. Chandrayaan-3 successfully soft-landed on the moon. The nation rejoiced with the message, “I reached my destination and you too! Congratulations, India!”
August 24, 2023: The crowning moment arrived. The Chandrayaan-3 Rover, proudly made in India, ramped down from the Lander. India took a symbolic walk on the moon, marking a significant achievement in lunar exploration. The world eagerly awaited more updates.
Chandrayaan-3’s journey from its announcement to its successful landing on the moon is a testament to India’s capabilities in space exploration and the relentless spirit of its scientists. The nation and the world watched with bated breath and celebrated each milestone, looking forward to the discoveries and insights the mission would bring.
