As Chandrayaan is 3 inches closer than the Moon's surface, the mission Operations Complex MOX at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network ISTRAC in Bengaluru prepares for the landing at 6:04 p.m. on Wednesday. This major event will mark India's entry into an exclusive league of nations. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISSRO) announced on Tuesday that the 600-crore mission is progressing as planned, with the landing module continuing its smooth journey.
India is expected to become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon's surface, following the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. The mission is on track. Regular checks are performed on systems. The MOX has a blast of energy and excitement. ISRO posted on a specific social media platform on Tuesday.
While the MOX and galleries are expected to be full on Monday, landing operations will also be broadcast live on ISRO's website, YouTube channel, and Doordarshan. The lander module is made up of the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover. With Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft spinning into an uncontrolled orbit on August 20, all eyes are on whether India will enter this elite league.
Space exploration will offer us valuable insights that will be valuable to future generations. I am very proud that India is at the forefront of space exploration and the pursuit of sustainable living on the Moon. These are truly exciting times, said American astronaut Sunita Williams of NASA's National Geographic India.
On Tuesday, ISRO released images of the Moon, captured by the Lander position Detection Camera LPDC, from an altitude of about 70 km. The images will assist the Lander module in determining its position latitude and longitude by matching them against an onboard moon reference map.
On Wednesday, Chandrayaan - 3's Lander module, which includes the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, will closely monitor the Moon's surface from a 100 x 30 km orbit. The laser Doppler velocity LDV meter, which was not part of Chandrayaan II, will survey the surface at this altitude. ISRO will make the final decision on the landing only after this assessment and two hours before the scheduled landing. According to media, if factors on the Lunar surface are not favourable, the landing may be postponed to August 27.
Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, described the mission as a new chapter in India's space odyssey, highlighting its potential to boost further investment in the sector. Shortly after, one side panel of the Vikram lander will open, creating a ramp for the Pragyan rover. As scheduled, the six-wheeled Pragyan, adorned with a national tricolour and an ISRO logo, will descend from the Lander through the ramp, touching the lunar surface after nearly four hours. The Lander will have a mission life of 14 days and will measure the near-surface plasma density, conduct temperatures of the moon surface near the polar region, and assess the seismicity surrounding the landing site.