Chandrayaan-3 makes near-perfect liftoff amid cheer; expected to make soft-landing on the moon August 23

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday took the first step towards a possible robotic soft landing on the surface of the moon on August 23 with the near perfect launch of the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft into an orbit around the earth by the heavy lift LVM3 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The LVM3 rocket, carrying a payload of 3,895 kg, including the spacecraft, lifted off precisely at 14:35:17 hours and followed a trajectory that was more or less in line with the scheduled stages in the launch of the Chandrayaan-3.

“Cryo stage thrust cut off. Satellite injection conditions are achieved,” said the announcer at the mission control complex at the space station in the final stage of the launch, which lasted around 16 minutes.

The Chandrayaan 3 satellite separated from the rocket after 965 seconds – against an intended 969 seconds – of flight as per the mission control data transmitted for viewing at the mission complex. “The Chandrayaan 3 has been placed in its elliptical parking orbit,” the announcer said.

Soon after the announcement, mission director S Mohana Kumar announced the success of the mission. “This is the mission director. The LVM3/Chandrayaan mission accomplished its precise satellite injection conditions. LVM3-M4 mission is successful,” he announced as ISRO Chairman S Somanath pumped the hands of top scientists associated with the launch.