Chandrayaan-3 completes final lunar orbit manoeuvre to pave way for Vikram's separation

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

moon mission completed a key task today as the Indian Space Research Organisation said that Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has successfully undergone fifth and final lunar orbit manoeuvre. This achievement marks a pivotal step towards the imminent separation of the landing module, housing Vikram, the lander, and Pragyan, the rover, from the propulsion module. «Today’s successful firing, needed for a short duration, has put Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit of 153 km x 163 km, as intended,» ISRO wrote on Twitter.

«With this, the lunar bound maneuvres are completed.» The spacecraft is further closer to the surface of Moon and ISRO said it’s time for preparations as the Propulsion Module and the Lander Module gear up for their separate journeys. «Separation of the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module is planned for August 17, 2023,» ISRO said. Following ISRO's announcement, MoS Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh also tweeted, «A step closer towards the Moon! Today’s successful firing, needed for a short duration, has put Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit of 153 km x 163 km, as intended.

With this, the lunar bound maneuvres have been completed.» India's ambitious third Moon mission's spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 after the launch on July 14, had entered into lunar orbit or the Moon's orbit on August 5. A series of maneuvers have been conducted by ISRO to gradually reduce Chandrayaan-3's orbit and position it over the lunar poles. The accomplishment of today's firing, undertaken for a brief duration, has precisely situated Chandrayaan-3 as planned.