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  • Chandrayaan-3 gets even closer to the Moon, achieves near-circular orbit

    National
    Chandrayaan-3 gets even closer to the Moon, achieves near-circular orbit
    Chandrayaan-3's orbit is being steadily lowered and moved closer to the lunar poles by ISRO as the mission advances through a series of manoeuvres.

    Digital Desk: The national space agency reported that Chandrayaan-3 made another successful manoeuvre of the spacecraft on Monday, advancing closer to the lunar surface.

    According to the space agency with its Bengaluru headquarters, the spacecraft has now entered a "near-circular orbit" around the Moon.

    The nation's ambitious third Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, was launched on July 14 and entered lunar orbit on August 5. The spacecraft then underwent two orbit lowering manoeuvres on August 6 and 9.

    "Orbit circularisation phase commences. Precise maneuver performed today has achieved a near-circular orbit of 150 km x 177 km," ISRO said in a tweet.

    It stated that the following operation is scheduled for August 16 at 8:00 AM.

    Chandrayaan-3's orbit is being steadily lowered and moved closer to the lunar poles by ISRO as the mission advances through a series of manoeuvres.

    According to ISRO sources, the spacecraft will undergo one more manoeuvre on August 16 to achieve a 100 kilometre orbit, after which the landing module, which is made up of the lander and rover, will separate from the propulsion module.

    The lander is then anticipated to undergo a "deboost" (the act of slowing down) and land gently on the south pole of the Moon on August 23.