Indian mission overcomes another stage before landing on the Moon – 08/17/2023 – Science

India’s new space mission, launched on the 14th, this Thursday (17th) overcame a decisive step in its second attempt to land on the Moon, with the separation of the lunar module from its launch rocket.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 mission module “successfully separated” six days before the moon landing, scheduled for Aug. 23.

According to ISRO, the rocket “will continue its journey in its current orbit for months/years” as part of a program to study exoplanets — planets located outside the solar system — to explore whether they are habitable for humans.

If predictions come true, Chandrayaan-3 will land safely near the Moon’s south pole between August 23rd and 24th.

India has a relatively small budget for its aerospace program compared to other countries, but it is moving fast in the wake of other world powers.

If successful, the world’s most populous country will join a very narrow circle of nations that have achieved controlled moon landing: Russia, the United States and China.

The last attempt by the Chandrayaan program failed four years ago, when ground crews lost contact with the spacecraft shortly before its arrival on the Moon.

Chandrayaan-3 includes a lander, called Vikram (Sanskrit for courage), and a rover, a mobile robot, Pragyan (Sanskrit for wisdom), which will explore the lunar surface.

The mission cost US$ 74.6 million (R$ 371 million), according to the press, much less than other countries.