Chandrayaan-2 Establishes Two-Way Link with Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module

In a significant development, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, already positioned in lunar orbit, successfully established a robust two-way communication link with the lander module of Chandrayaan-3 on Monday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) joyfully exclaimed, “‘Welcome, buddy!’ Chandrayaan-2 orbiter formally welcomed Chandrayaan-3 LM (lander module). Two-way communication between the two is established. MOX (Mission Operations Complex) has now more routes to reach the LM.”

Chandrayaan-3 is poised to make a historic landing on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, at approximately 18:04 IST.

Viewers worldwide can witness this milestone through live coverage on the ISRO website, YouTube channel, Facebook, and the public broadcaster DD National TV, starting from 17:27 IST on August 23, 2023.

As anticipation builds for Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing on the moon’s south pole, former ISRO director and head of the previous lunar mission, ‘Chandrayaan-2,’ K Sivan, expressed confidence in its success, stating, “It’s a very anxious moment…I’m sure that this time it will be a grand success.”

Addressing concerns about potential mishaps, Sivan asserted, “We have our own system and we will be establishing a soft landing without any problem. But it is a complex process.” This statement was in response to inquiries regarding the recent failure of Russia’s Luna-25 mission, which spun out of control and collided with the moon.

Sivan assured that corrective actions have been taken based on data gleaned from the Chandrayaan-2 mission, and he emphasized that all additional systems are indigenous.

Earlier today, ISRO unveiled images of the lunar far side area captured by the Lander Hazard Detection and Avoidance Camera (LHDAC). This camera plays a critical role in identifying a secure landing spot, free from boulders or deep trenches, during the descent phase.

A notable recent achievement was the successful separation of the ‘Vikram’ lander module from the propulsion module, followed by vital deboosting maneuvers that lowered it to a slightly lower orbit. The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander is named in honor of Vikram Sarabhai (1919–1971), often referred to as the father of the Indian space program.

The GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle carried the spacecraft into lunar orbit on August 5. Subsequently, a series of orbital maneuvers brought it closer to the moon’s surface.

It has been one month and seven days since ISRO launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.

Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar mission, has ambitious objectives including a safe and gentle lunar landing, rover exploration of the moon’s surface, and in-situ scientific experiments. The mission’s approved cost stands at Rs. 250 crores, excluding launch vehicle expenses.

The journey of Chandrayaan-3 commenced in January 2020, with an originally planned launch in 2021. However, unforeseen delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mission’s progress.

Chandrayaan-2, a predecessor of this mission, yielded significant scientific insights, including the creation of the first-ever global lunar sodium map, enhanced understanding of lunar crater size distribution, and the unequivocal detection of water ice on the lunar surface using the IIRS instrument, among other findings.

As the moon holds the secrets of Earth’s past, a triumphant lunar mission by India not only promises to enrich our understanding of our own planet’s history but also positions us to explore the mysteries of the broader solar system and beyond.