Which will first land, India’s Chandryaaan-3 or Russia’s, contest fizzles out as Luna-25 crashlands, now advantage ISRO

Chennai, Aug 20 (FN Agency) Ever since Russia launched its Luna-25 spacecraft, a mission to land on the South Polar region of the moon after a long gap of 47 years, it was touted as a race between it and India’s third Lunar Mission Chandyraan-3 on which will take the pole position and become the first to land to detect the frozen water on the surface. Russia’s Luna-25 was launched way later than Chandyraan-2 which was launched on July 14. It has been designed in such a way that Luna-25 is expected to land on the moon in 12 days after its launch on August 21-22, as against 42 days targetted by ISRO, which has planned soft landing on Aug 23. However, Russia’s 47-year-long dream crashed when the Luna-25 crash landed into the moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit, making it a no contest. This allowed India gain the advantage and it is all set for the powered descent of its Chandryaaan-3 at 1804 hrs on August 23, making it the fourth nation in the world to achieve this monumental feat, after US, China and Russia.

Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon after it spun into an uncontrolled orbit, Roscosmos space agency said on Sunday. The pilotless spacecraft was aiming to be the first ever to land on the south pole of the Moon, an area where scientists believe there could be important reserves of frozen water and precious elements. It was expected to land on August 21. However, it lost contact with the Luna-25 on Saturday after the spacecraft ran into difficulties and reported an “abnormal situation”. “The apparatus moved into an unpredictable orbit and ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the moon,” Roscosmos said in a statement, post the crash. Luna-25, the lunar mission was Russia’s first since 1976, when it was part of the Soviet Union. Only three governments have managed successful moon landings: the Soviet Union, the United States and China. The Luna-25 was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East on August 10.

Meanwhile, without making any reference to the Russia’ failed Lunar landing attempt, ISRO termed as a monumental event in space exploration, on the proposed soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 at 1804 hrs on August 23. The Space Agency, after the second and final deboosting operation of the Lander Module (LM), from which Rover will be ejected out upon landing at the South Polar region, early today announced that the powered descent for soft landing will take place at 1745 hrs. And now it will take place around 1804 hrs, ISRO posted in “X”, (formerly twitter). “Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the moon on August 23, 2023, around 18:04 Hrs. IST.” “Thanks for the wishes and positivity!”, it said. “Let’s continue experiencing the journey together with live action in ISRO Website, YouTube, Facebook and DD National TV from 1727 hrs on Aug 23, 2023”, ISRO added. The second deboosting operation was done at 0200 hrs early today morning and the LM would await sunrise at the designated landing site and the powered descent will commence on August 23, it said.

After this manoeuvre, the spacecraft was now located at about 25 km x 134 km. In a social media post ISRO in an update on Chandrayaan-3 Mission said the second and final deboosting operation has successfully reduced the LM orbit to 25 km x 134 km. “The module would undergo internal checks and await the sun-rise at the designated landing site”, ISRO said. ISRO said India’s pursuit of space exploration reaches a remarkable milestone with the impending Chandrayaan-3 Mission, poised to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface. “This achievement marks a significant step forward for Indian Science, Engineering, Technology, and Industry, symbolising our nation’s progress in space exploration. This eagerly anticipated event will be broadcasted live on August 23, starting from 17:27 Hrs. IST. The live coverage will be available via multiple platforms, including the ISRO Website, YouTube, ISRO’s Facebook page and DD National TV channel. The soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a monumental moment that not only fuels curiosity, but also sparks a passion for exploration within the minds of our youth, ISRO said.