​​As Chandrayaan-3 takes flight towards the moon, here's a timeline of ISRO's lunar journey​

Jul 14, 2023

By: Abhishek Jha

chandrayaan mission

If the mission is successful, i.e. ISRO manages a soft landing on the moon, India will join an exclusive club which has the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union and China.

​First, what’s at stake?​

If the mission is successful, i.e. ISRO manages a soft landing on the moon, India will join an exclusive club which has the United States, the erstwhile Soviet Union and China.

Credit: Nasa

​Mission’s first gear

​August 15, 2003: Then Prime Minister, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee announces the Chandrayaan programme.​

Chandrayaan-1 takes off​

October 22, 2008: Chandrayaan-1 takes off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Credit: weather

​Chandrayaan-1: Water confirmed

November 14, 2008: The probe crashes near the lunar South Pole but confirms the presence of water molecules on the Moon's surface.​

Credit: weather

​Chandrayaan-2 takes off

July 22, 2019: Chandrayaan-2 is launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

Chandrayaan-2: Almost there!

September 2, 2019: Vikram Lander gets separated while orbiting the moon in a 100 km lunar polar orbit. Communication is only lost at an altitude of 2.1 km from the surface of the moon.

​Again we rise…

July 14, 2023: Chandrayaan-3 lifts off from the second launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota and starts its journey towards the Moon.​

​The date to mark on your calendar

​August 23/24, 2023: ISRO expects the soft landing on the lunar surface to take place by August 23-24. ​

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