The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has published a spectacular video made by the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft. It demonstrates its entry into orbit around the Moon.
Video from lunar orbit
Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14. After entering Earth orbit, the spacecraft began to perform a series of course corrections that gradually increased its apogee. On August 5, Chandrayaan-3 performed a key maneuver that allowed it to move into a permanent orbit around the Moon.
In honor of this event, ISRO published a video made with the help of the Chandrayaan-3 onboard camera. We can see the body of the spacecraft against the background of the cratered lunar surface.
Landing on the Moon
At the moment, Chandrayaan-3 is in a very elongated orbit around the Moon (its parameters are 64 by 18,074 km). In the coming days, it will perform a series of maneuvers that will gradually “round off” its orbit.
After Chandrayaan-3 enters a permanent 100-kilometer orbit, a landing platform will separate from it, on board of which there is a 26-kilogram rover. It will attempt to land on the territory of the southern polar region of the Moon. If successful, India will become the fourth country in history to have managed this operation.
At the moment, the Moon landing is scheduled for August 23. The data collected by the lunar rover and the platform will be transmitted via the Chandrayaan-3 flight module, which will remain in lunar orbit.
It is worth noting that both the lunar rover and the platform are designed to work for one lunar day (14 Earth days). But in theory, they can function more. According to ISRO experts, their tests have shown that the platform and the lunar rover are able to survive the lunar night. If they manage to recharge their batteries and get in touch with Earth, their mission will be extended.
According to https://www.isro.gov.in
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