Context: Recently, Scientists have brought the Propulsion Module of the Chandrayaan-3 mission back into Earth orbit.

Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module Returns to Earth Orbit

• The Chandrayaan-3 mission included a Propulsion Module (PM) that carried the lander to within 100 km of the lunar surface.
• ISRO successfully returned the Propulsion Module (PM) of Chandrayaan-3 to Earth orbit.
• This maneuver was not part of the original mission plan and utilized leftover fuel.

About the Propulsion Module:

• Chandrayaan-3 Mission Features:
  • Unlike Chandrayaan-2, which failed in September 2019, Chandrayaan-3 featured a light Propulsion Module instead of a full-fledged orbiter.
  • For communications with Earth stations, the mission used the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, which was still in orbit around the Moon.
  • The PM carried an experimental payload called the Spectro Polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) for studying Earth’s habitability and identifying habitable exoplanets.
  • Function: The main function of PM is to carry the LM [or Lander Module] from launch vehicle injection till the final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and separate the LM from the PM.
• Maneuvers and Current Status:
  • ISRO performed maneuvers to raise the PM’s orbit around the Moon and then target an Earth orbit of 1.8 lakh x 3.8 lakh km.
  • The Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver was performed on October 13, and the PM made four Moon fly-bys before leaving the Moon’s sphere of influence on November 10.
  • Currently, the PM is orbiting Earth with an orbit period of nearly 13 days, and SHAPE payload operations are ongoing.
• Significance of the Experiment:
  • It allows ISRO to understand the planning and execution of trajectory and maneuvers to return from the Moon to Earth for a small spacecraft.
  • Contributes to the development of a software module for future missions
  • Enables the planning and execution of gravity-assisted flybys and
  • Avoids the uncontrolled crashes on the Moon’s surface at the end of the spacecraft’s life.

More Information on Chandrayan 3

News Source: Indian Express

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