The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully used a novel slingshot effect on Chandrayaan 3, a Moon-bound probe. This operation, which involves harnessing the gravity of a celestial body to change the spacecraft’s course, not only saved fuel but also supplied critical information about Earth and the Moon during its orbits around Earth.
The final journey of Chandrayaan 3 has begun as it approaches the Moon. To do this, the spacecraft initially manoeuvred away from Earth’s orbit before entering a critical point in the Moon’s gravity known as ‘perigee,’ where the Moon’s influence on the spacecraft becomes visible. The thrusters on Chandrayaan 3 were employed at this point to move tangentially into the Moon’s orbit.
ISRO is now looking forward to the “Lunar Orbit Insertion,” which is slated for August 5th. The spacecraft will be inserted into the Moon’s inner orbits during this manoeuvre.
Prior to this stage, the spacecraft’s orbit was gradually boosted in five stages after its launch on July 14, 2023.
The key goals of this mission are to investigate reaching lunar orbits via the slingshot effect, to land softly on the Moon’s surface, and to install a rover to gather and analyse samples.
On August 23, Chandrayaan 3 will attempt a soft landing on the Moon’s surface. Unlike Chandrayaan 2, which sadly crashed, Chandrayaan 3 intends to learn from its predecessor’s shortcomings.
As it demonstrates its experience and successes in interstellar travel, ISRO is garnering major respect in the realm of space exploration missions.
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