BANGALORE: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday took to microblogging platform 'X,' formerly known as Twitter, to provide an update on the progress of Chandrayaan-3's mission to touch down on the Moon's southern pole. ISRO revealed that the Lander Vikram, which has been in lunar orbit since August 5, has successfully established communication with the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
The ISRO update on 'X' tweeted, "Chandrayaan-3 Mission: A Warm Welcome to the Ch-3 LM from the Ch-2 orbiter. Bidirectional communication has been established between the two spacecraft. This development widens MOX's avenues to connect with the LM. Update: Live broadcast of the Landing event begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST."
Earlier on the same day, K Sivan, the former director of ISRO and head of the previous lunar venture, Chandrayaan-2, expressed his confidence in the success of the current mission. Sivan remarked, "Regarding Chandrayaan-3, several aspects were revised from Chandrayaan-2. Numerous technologies and scientific elements needed to be modified, and those changes have been implemented."
He further detailed that adjustments were made based on the data gathered from the Chandrayaan-2 mission, incorporating corrective measures for the current endeavor.
Significant scientific achievements of Chandrayaan-2 encompass the creation of the first comprehensive global map of lunar sodium distribution, advancements in comprehending the distribution of crater sizes, definitive identification of water ice on the lunar surface using the IIRS instrument, and more.
India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is set to perform its lunar landing on Wednesday, August 23, around 6:04 pm, specifically targeting the Moon's southern pole. Chandrayaan-3 epitomizes ISRO's commitment to achieving a precise soft landing on the lunar surface.
A successful outcome will position India as the fourth nation globally to achieve this milestone, aligning with the achievements of the United States, Russia, and China. The international community will keenly observe India's strides in lunar exploration, serving as a testament to the nation's capabilities and proficiency in space missions.
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Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 21, 2023
‘Welcome, buddy!’
Ch-2 orbiter formally welcomed Ch-3 LM.
Two-way communication between the two is established.
MOX has now more routes to reach the LM.
Update: Live telecast of Landing event begins at 17:20 Hrs. IST.#Chandrayaan_3 #Ch3
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