Chandrayaan-3 in 'normal health', heads closer to Moon

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Isro on Tuesday said the health of India's third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 is normal - hours after it completed its orbits around the Earth and moved closer to the Moon.

Earlier today, a key manoeuvre to slingshot the Chandrayaan spacecraft towards the Moon from Earth's orbit was carried out successfully. The move put the spacecraft in a translunar orbit in which it enters the Moon's sphere of influence.

In about four days from now another crucial manoeuvre will inject the spacecraft into the Moon's orbit. The manoeuvre will be performed when Chandrayaan-3 is at the closest point to the Moon (perilune), ISRO said.

"As it arrives at the moon, the Lunar-Orbit Insertion (LOI) is planned for August 5, 2023," ISRO said, adding that, "A crucial manoeuvre at perilune would achieve the LOI.''