Chandrayaan-3 to launch on July 14, ISRO aims for soft landing on Moon's surface

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is set to launch to the Moon on July 14.

The spacecraft, carrying a lander and a rover, will lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in an ambitious bid to achieve a soft landing on the Moon's surface.

Previously, ISRO had stated that the mission would launch on July 13, but the date has now been revised to July 14. The launch window will remain open until July 19, providing flexibility for any necessary adjustments.

ISRO Chief S Somnath expressed confidence that the mission will successfully accomplish a soft landing this time. Chandrayaan-3 is the third installment of the Chandrayaan series and represents India's second attempt to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.

Only three countries, to date, have accomplished such a feat. Equipped with a lander and a rover, the spacecraft will embark on a nearly two-month-long journey to the Moon. It will first be inserted into lunar orbit before initiating the landing approach.

ISRO has assured that the lander possesses the capability to gently touch down at a designated lunar site and deploy the rover. Once on the Moon's surface, the rover will conduct in-situ chemical analysis, providing valuable insights into the lunar composition.