Fingers crossed ! Indians hope for success for ISRO as countdown beigns for launch of Chandrayaan-3

With the hope that the India space agency will taste success with a soft landing on the lunar surface, Indians across the globe are waiting with bated breath as the ISRO started the countdown for the launch of the third edition of India's moon mission, Chandrayaan-3. It should be noted that is all set to take off on July 14 at 2:35 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

 

 

The countdown for the historic mission began on Thursday. In a tweet on Thursday, ISRO wrote, "The countdown leading to the launch tomorrow at 14:35:17 Hrs. IST has commenced."

 

According to scientists, after the lift-off at 2.35 pm on Friday, around 16 minutes after lift-off, the propulsion module is expected to get separated from the rocket and would orbit the earth for about 5-6 times in an elliptical cycle with 170 km closest and 36,500 km farthest from earth moving towards the lunar orbit.

 

To witness the event live, you can watch the streaming of the launch on ISRO's official website and YouTube channel.

 

 

 

After reaching the desired position, the lander module would begin its descent for a soft landing on the south pole region of the moon and this action is expected to take place on August 23 or 24, scientists at ISRO said. The moon's south pole region has been chosen because the Lunar South Pole remains much larger than that at the North pole. There could be a possibility of the presence of water in permanently shadowed areas around it.

 

 

 

Chandrayaan-2 failed to achieve the desired soft landing on the moon's surface in 2019, leaving the ISRO team dejected. Images of an emotional then ISRO chief K Sivan being consoled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present to achieve the rare feat, remains vivid in the memory of many. Scientists at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, after investing many hours of hard work, now aim at mastering the technology of soft-landing on the surface of the moon. Success would make India only the fourth country to achieve the feat after the United States, China and the former Soviet Union.