Chandrayaan-3 Launch On July 14: Here’s All You Need To Know About India’s Moon Mission

The launch of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO's most awaited mission this year is less than 48 hours away.

As scheduled, the lunar mission will be launched on Friday, July 14, at 2:35 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota

ISRO tweeted on Tuesday that the ‘Launch Rehearsal’ simulating the entire launch preparation and process lasting 24 hours has been concluded.

Along with the tweet, the space agency also shared a mission brochure containing all the information regarding Chandrayaan-3. Let's take a look:

"Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission is ready to take off in the fourth operational mission (M4) of the LVM3 launcher. ISRO is crossing new frontiers by demonstrating soft landing on the lunar surface by its lunar module and demonstrate roving on the lunar terrain," the brochure said.

"It is expected to be supportive to ISRO’s future interplanetary missions. Additionally the deployment of rover and in-situ scientific experiment will scale new heights in lunar expeditions by deploying Rover. Yes, ISRO is bringing the Moon closer to us," it added.

The mission is divided into ten phases: 

1. Earth Centric Phase (Phase-1) 

• Pre-launch Phase  

• Launch and Ascent Phase  

• Earth-bound Manoeuvre Phase 

2. Lunar Transfer Phase (Phase-2) 

• Transfer Trajectory Phase

Moon Centric Phase 

• Lunar Orbit Insertion Phase (LOI) (Phase-3)

• Moon-bound Manoeuvre Phase (Phase-4)

• PM and Lunar Module Separation (Phase-5)

• De-boost Phase (Phase-6)

• Pre-landing Phase (Phase-7)

• Landing Phase (Phase-8)

• Normal Phase for Lander and Rover (Phase-9)

• Moon Centric Normal Orbit Phase (100 km circular orbit) - For Propulsion Module (Phase-10)

Chandrayaan-3 consists of an indigenous propulsion module, a lander module, and a rover with the objective of developing and demonstrating new technologies required for inter-planetary missions.

The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover from injection orbit to till 100 km lunar orbit. It also carries a Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planetary Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of earth from the lunar orbit.

The main function of the Propulsion Module is to carry the LM from launch vehicle injection orbit to till Lander separation.

• Lunar Polar Orbit: From 170 x 36500 km to lunar polar orbit

• Mission life: Carrying Lander Module & Rover upto ~100 x 100 km launch injection. Subsequently, operation of experimental payload for a period of 3 to 6 months.

• Structure: Modified version of I-3 K

• Dry Mass: 448.62 kg (including pressurant)

• Propellant Mass: 1696.39 kg

• Total PM Mass: 2145.01 kg

• Power Generation: 738 W, Summer solistices and with bias

• Communication: S-Band Transponder (TTC) – with IDSN

• Attitude Sensors: CASS, IRAP, Micro star sensor

• Propulsion System: Bi-Propellant Propulsion System (MMH + MON3)

• Mission life: 1 Lunar day (14 Earth days)

• Mass: 1749.86 kg including Rover

• Power: 738 W (Winter solstice)

• Payloads: 3

• Dimensions (mm3 ): 2000 x 2000 x 1166

• Communication: ISDN, Ch-2 Orbiter, Rover

• Landing site: 69.367621 S, 32.348126 E

• Mission Life: 1 Lunar day

• Mass: 26 kg

• Power: 50 W

• Payloads: 2

• Dimensions (mm3 ): 917 x 750 x 397

• Communication: Lander

LVM3 is the operational heavy-lift launch vehicle of ISRO and has a spectacular pedigree of completing 6 consecutive successful missions. This is the 4th operational flight of LVM3, aims to launch the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft to Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO).

• Height: 43.5 m

• Lift-off Mass: 642 t

  Propulsion Stages

• Strap-on Motors: 2 x S200 (Solid)

• Core Stage: L110 (Liquid)

• Upper Stage: C25 (Cryo)

• Payload Fairing: 5 m OPLF

LVM3 has proved its versatility to undertake most complex missions like:  

• Injecting multi-satellites Mission planning to ensure safe relative distance among separated satellites through re-orientation and velocity addition maneuvers.  

• Multi orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO) and execute interplanetary missions.  

• India’s largest and heaviest launch vehicle ferrying Indian and international customer satellites. 

LVM3-M4 will be launched from the Second Launch Pad (SLP), SDSC, SHAR.