Chandrayaan 3: Lunar mission of ISRO takes off, thousands came to cheer

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation launched its third lunar mission--Chandrayaan 3 on-board the heavy-lift LVM3-M4 rocket here on Friday.

At the end of the 25.30 hour countdown, the LVM3-M4 rocket, the largest and heaviest in its class and dubbed as 'Fat Boy' lifted off majestically at a prefixed time at 2.35 pm from the second launch pad, discharging thick plumes of smoke.

With the Chandrayaan-3 mission, scientists are aiming at mastering soft landing on the lunar surface, a challenging technical aspect that is planned for late August. A successful mission would make India only the fourth country to achieve the rare feat after the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union.

Chandrayaan 3 follows the Chandrayaan 2 mission which did not achieve the desired soft landing on the surface of the moon in 2019, disappointing the scientists.

According to ISRO officials, around 16 minutes after lift-off, the propulsion module will separate from the rocket and will orbit the Earth for about 5-6 times in an elliptical cycle with 170 km closest and 36,500 km farthest from Earth moving towards the lunar orbit.

The propulsion module along with the lander, after gaining speed would proceed for an over a month-long journey towards reaching the orbit of the moon until it goes 100 km above the lunar surface.

After reaching the desired altitude, the lander module would begin its descent for a soft landing on the south pole region of the moon and this action is expected to take place on August 23 or 24, scientists at ISRO said.

Thousands came to cheer

Thousands of spectators who had converged to witness the historic launch cheered the rocket as it made its ascent into the skies.

It is 'D-Day' here at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre as people have descended here to witness India's attempt at creating history with the launch of Chandrayaan 3.

Despite scorching heat and a forecast of dry weather, passenger vehicles carrying ardent space enthusiasts were making a beeline to this spaceport.

Security has been tightened with police personnel being deployed every one hundred metres on the road that leads to the entrance of SHAR in view of the milestone launch.

The chairman of diversified conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra said "At lift-off, it won't just be the rocket taking flight, it will be our spirits too Go, #Chandrayaan !", in a social media post.

Sandeep, a college student, who hails from Tirupati said he was excited to come for the launch.

"This is the first time I am coming here. Pretty excited to witness the launch", he told.

Homemaker Surya said she has been interested in rocket launches and this is also her first time to witness it from the gallery.

"I feel great being here today. It is an awesome experience to see the rocket instead of watching it on TV", she said.

Apart from the general public high-profile visitors including Union Minister Jitendra Singh, officials from various Central and State government agencies were present at the venue in large numbers to watch the most anticipated ISRO launch of the year.

Inputs from PTI