Chandrayaan-3's Propulsion Module Back In Earth's Orbit; How This Might Help India's Manned Moon Mission

ISRO Chnadrayaan-3 News:  In a significant yet silent experiment, the Indian space agency ISRO has brought back the Chandrayan-3's propulsion module (PM) - the carrier which flew the lander and the rover to the lunar orbit - from the moon's orbit to the orbit close to our Earth. The scientific manoeuvre quietly pulled by ISRO can have the potential application in the proposed first manned lunar landing by India on the Moon.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi had earlier said that India is eying to land an Indian manned mission on the lunar surface around 2040. Considering the ambitious plan of the country, the declaration and subsequent reentering of the Propulsion Module back to Earth's orbit might be the first step in that direction.

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Isro while sharing the details of the experiment on its 'X' account wrote that 'in a unique experiment, the propulsion module has been placed into Earth's orbit.'

"Ch-3's Propulsion Module (PM) takes a successful detour! In another unique experiment, the PM is brought from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit. An orbit-raising manoeuvre and a Trans-Earth injection manoeuvre placed PM in an Earth-bound orbit," the full post read.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Ch-3's Propulsion Module (PM) takes a successful detour!

In another unique experiment, the PM is brought from Lunar orbit to Earth’s orbit.

An orbit-raising maneuver and a Trans-Earth injection maneuver placed PM in an Earth-bound orbit.… pic.twitter.com/qGNBhXrwff

— ISRO (@isro) December 5, 2023

The propulsion module is expected to stay in the Earth's orbit for a year. ISRO started this experiment on October 9 by changing the spacecraft's orbit. It helped Isro figure out how to bring things back to Earth. Even though the ISRO had sent spacecraft around the moon three times before, this is the first time they've brought something back.

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The latest demonstration comes after ISRO performed a hop experiment during the final phase of the Chandrayaan-3 lander's mission. These two significant steps promise a bright ray of hope for the upcoming Lunar explorations for India while providing insights into Isro's readiness for upcoming missions. These future endeavours involve not only successfully landing on the moon but also taking off from its surface and returning to Earth.