The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully performed the fourth orbit-raising maneuver (Earth-bound apogee firing) of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
On Twitter, the ISRO stated that India is celebrating International Moon Day 2023 by propelling Chandrayaan-3 a step closer to the Moon.
The spacecraft is currently positioned in an orbit of 41,603 km x 226 km, and the next maneuver test is planned for Tuesday between 2 and 3 p.m. (IST).
The next firing is planned for July 25 between 2 and 3 p.m., the ISRO tweeted.
Chandrayaan-3: Fourth Orbit-Raising Manoeuver Performed Successfully
© Photo : Twitter/@ISRO
On Friday, the ISRO achieved a big feat with the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota spaceport in India's Andhra Pradesh state.
Within nine minutes of takeoff, the rocket entered the vacuum of space and on Sunday: the first orbit-raising maneuver of the spacecraft was performed successfully.
This lunar mission onboard India's heaviest Launch Vehicle, Mark-3 aims to land a state-of-the-art rover, an Indian-made lander, and a propulsion module to conduct experiments on the Moon's surface. If successful, this landing would make India the fourth country to achieve this feat, following the United States, Russia, and China.