The Chandrayaan-3 mission was designed to demonstrate a controlled landing on the Moon, ensuring the operation of the lunar rover on the surface and conducting research directly on the spot. The mission consists of a landing module, propulsion module and lunar rover. The device was launched 14 July 2023 using the LVM3 launch vehicle from the SDSC SHAR Space Center in Sriharikot (India).
After the successful landing on the moon 23 August 2023 year, the propulsion module remained in lunar orbit (at a height of approx 150 km) until October 2023 year. The maneuvers performed in October put the module on a high-altitude trajectory in the direction of Earth, into the zone of combined gravitational influence of the Earth and the Moon.
The module again entered the sphere of influence of the Moon 4 November 2025 year.
- The first flight took place 6 November beyond the range of visibility of the Indian Space Communications Network; the minimum distance to the surface of the Moon was 3740 km.
- The second flight, which was already tracked by the network, took place 11 November in the distance 4537 km from the surface.
- The module left the Moon's sphere of influence 14 November 2025 year.
During these flybys, the orbit of the apparatus changed from 100 000 × 300 000 km to 409 000 × 727 000 km, and the inclination of the orbit is z 34 to 22 degrees.
Telemetry network, track and command ISRO closely monitored the trajectory. The device worked normally; no dangerous encounters with other lunar orbiters have been recorded. Mission teams gained valuable experience, in particular, regarding high-precision flight dynamics and perturbing moments.
Source: https://www.spacedaily.com