Chandrayaan-3 mission: Vikram lander detached, here’s what happens next

Now, the lander will embark on an independent journey to achieve touchdown on the lunar surface.

The forthcoming phases of the Chandrayaan-3 mission involve activating and validating the onboard instruments, which encompass three pivotal scientific payloads, the lander will engage in two successive orbit-reduction manoeuvres.

The first of these manoeuvres will position the lander into a circular orbit at 100x100 km above the Moon.

Subsequently, a more intricate adjustment will bring the lander even closer, positioning it at a height of 100x30 km.

It is from this strategic orbit that the lander is slated to initiate its final descent on August 23.

A successful Chandrayaan-3 mission will pave the way for India to advance its space technology and open further avenues for interplanetary ventures. It is comprising a trio of integral components — a lander module, a propulsion module and a rover — the mission is equipped with new technologies essential for interplanetary expeditions. As outlined by ISRO, the lander's core objective is to achieve a soft landing on a designated lunar site, facilitating the rover's deployment.

The rover, while manoeuvring across the lunar terrain, will perform critical in-situ chemical analyses of the lunar surface. The lander and rover are equipped with scientific payloads to conduct vital experiments on the Moon and have a mission life aligned with one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days.

The separation between the two modules will be succeeded by a sequence of intricate braking manoeuvres.