Sriharikota: Tomorrow, on July 14, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch its third lunar exploration mission called Chandrayaan-3 from Sriharikota. This significant event will mark India's entrance as the fourth country to achieve a successful landing on the moon's surface, showcasing our nation's expertise in safe and gentle lunar landings.

To ensure a seamless launch, ISRO has already conducted a 24-hour 'launch rehearsal,' meticulously simulating the entire preparation process for the mission.

At 2.35 pm, Chandrayaan-3 will be launched aboard the powerful Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) from Sriharikota's spaceport. Prior to the launch, a team of ISRO scientists visited the Tirupati Venkatachalapathy Temple in Andhra Pradesh, carrying a miniature model of Chandrayaan-3, to offer their prayers.

This mission holds great significance as it serves as a follow-up to the previous Chandrayaan-2 mission, which faced challenges during its soft landing in 2019. Unfortunately, the Vikram lunar lander encountered difficulties and crashed on the moon's surface during its descent.

Building upon the achievements of Chandrayaan-2, the Chandrayaan-3 mission aims to demonstrate various capabilities, including reaching the moon's orbit, executing a gentle landing using a lander, and deploying a rover to conduct surface studies.

Following the lift-off at 2.35 pm on Friday, approximately 16 minutes later, the propulsion module will separate from the rocket. It will then embark on an elliptical orbit around the Earth, completing 5-6 cycles with the closest point at 170 km and the farthest point at 36,500 km, gradually progressing towards the lunar orbit.

Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, expressed his confidence that the launch of Chandrayaan-3 will elevate India's international collaborations, particularly with the United States. He emphasized, "I have full confidence in stating that the launch of Chandrayaan-3 will significantly enhance India's international collaborations, including those with the US."

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