Chandrayaan-3 has entered the Moon's orbit and will land on August 23

India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has entered the Moon's orbit, a major milestone in the mission to soft-land on the lunar surface. The spacecraft was launched on July 14 and has been gradually reducing its orbit over the past few weeks.

On August 6, Chandrayaan-3's orbit was reduced to 170 kilometers by 4,313 kilometers. This is the closest the spacecraft has come to the Moon so far.

The next major milestone for Chandrayaan-3 is the soft landing on the lunar surface. This is scheduled to take place on August 23. If the landing is successful, India will become the fourth country to soft-land on the Moon, after the United States, Russia, and China.

Chandrayaan-3 is carrying a lander and a rover. The lander will touch down on the Moon's South Pole, where it will deploy the rover. The rover will then explore the lunar surface for up to 14 days.

The main objective of Chandrayaan-3 is to study the lunar surface and to search for water ice. The South Pole is a particularly interesting area for this research, as it is thought to be one of the most likely places to find water ice on the Moon.

The success of Chandrayaan-3 would be a major achievement for India's space program. It would also be a significant step forward in the global effort to explore the Moon.

Here are some of the key questions about the Chandrayaan-3 mission:

What will India gain from this mission?

India hopes to gain a number of benefits from the Chandrayaan-3 mission. These include:

* Increased knowledge about the lunar surface and the potential for water ice

* Improved space technology and engineering capabilities

* Increased international prestige

Why was the mission sent to the South Pole only?

The South Pole is a particularly interesting area for lunar exploration because it is thought to be one of the most likely places to find water ice. Water ice is a valuable resource that could be used for drinking, making fuel, and supporting life.

Why 4 engines instead of 5 in the lander this time?

The lander in the Chandrayaan-3 mission has four engines instead of five. This is because the fifth engine was added at the last moment in the Chandrayaan 2 mission and was not necessary for the successful landing. The removal of the fifth engine allows for more fuel to be carried, which will increase the lander's range and endurance.

Why only 14 days mission?

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is only scheduled to last for 14 days. This is because the lander and rover will generate power from their solar panels. At night, the temperature on the Moon drops below -100 degrees Celsius, and the solar panels will not be able to generate enough power to keep the lander and rover running.

Conclusion

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a significant milestone in India's space program. If the mission is successful, it would be a major achievement for India and would contribute to the global effort to explore the Moon.