Chandrayaan 3: The national space agency said in a release that this was another achievement that proves ISRO can restart engines on the moon and operate equipment, both of which were not anticipated. This came after the lunar hop by Vikram (lander).
Launch and Lunar Arrival
Following launch on July 14, 2023, on August 23, Vikram made a successful landing on the Moon, and Pragyaan started exploring it. Both functioned as intended for a single lunar day. The main objectives of the Peopulsion Module, meanwhile, were to support the lander’s mission and perform scientific duties following separation.
Extended Mission Success
The Module was able to prolong its mission because of its efficient manoeuvres, which left it with excess fuel. ISRO made the decision to carefully avoid any collisions and reposition the Module to a safe Earth orbit in order to carry out scientific observations and plan for future missions. The Propulsion Module underwent careful orbital alterations in October 2023 to return to Earth’s orbit, allowing it to complete several flybys of the Moon before departing its sphere of influence in November.
Module’s Safety Assurance for Operational Satellites
As it orbits Earth now, the Module makes sure that operational satellites are not in danger. During Earth sightings and even during a special observation during a solar eclipse, the SHAPE payload on board the Module is in operation. With an emphasis on planning future Moon-to-Earth missions and analysing return manoeuvres, ISRO’s flight dynamics team created advanced tools specifically for this mission. The results also include demonstrating India’s advanced space capabilities and readiness for future missions by ensuring the Propulsion Module won’t leave any debris on the Moon and organising gravity-assisted flybys.
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