The module is now orbiting about 96,000 miles above Earth, where it will make one lap of the planet approximately every 13 days.
The Propulsion Module of the Chandrayaan-3 mission has successfully returned to Earth's orbit.
The return of the PM to Earth's orbit involved an orbit-raising maneuver and a Trans-Earth injection maneuver.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone in its lunar exploration program. The Propulsion Module (PM) of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which was initially inserted into a lunar orbit, has successfully returned to Earth's orbit. This maneuver marks a significant step forward for future lunar missions, bringing ISRO closer to future manned missions and addressing the issue of space debris.
Unlike its predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, the Chandrayaan-3 mission featured a lighter Propulsion Module and utilized the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter for communication. The PM carried an experimental payload named SHAPE, aimed at studying Earth's habitability. The primary objective of the Chandrayaan-3 mission was to demonstrate a soft landing near the lunar south polar region and perform experiments.
The return of the PM to Earth's orbit involved an orbit-raising maneuver and a Trans-Earth injection maneuver. The module had more fuel left over than expected, leading researchers to decide to bring it back towards Earth. The module is now orbiting about 96,000 miles above Earth, where it will make one lap of the planet approximately every 13 days.
This unique experiment is aimed at testing how India might one day return samples of lunar soil, a crucial step in understanding the Moon's geology and assessing its potential for future human habitation. The successful return of the PM to Earth's orbit is a testament to ISRO's growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to advancing our understanding of the Moon.