Chandrayaan-3#Design

{{Further|Chandrayaan programme}}{{See also|Lunar south pole}}On 22 July 2019, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2 on board a Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) launch vehicle consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover.{{Cite news |date=21 July 2019 |title=Chandrayaan-2: India launches second Moon mission |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49032603 |url-status=live |access-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822092132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49032603 |archive-date=22 August 2019}} The lander was scheduled to touch down on the lunar surface on 6 September 2019 to deploy the Pragyan rover. The lander lost contact with mission control, deviated from its intended trajectory while attempting to land near the lunar south pole, and crashed.{{Cite web |title=India has found its Vikram lander after it crashed into the moon's surface |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/09/06/133128/india-s-chandrayaan-2-lander-likely-crashed-into-the-moons-surface/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411092539/https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/09/06/133128/india-s-chandrayaan-2-lander-likely-crashed-into-the-moons-surface/ |archive-date=11 April 2023 |access-date=25 August 2023 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |date=10 September 2019 |title=Did India's Chandrayaan-2 Moon Lander Survive? The Chances Are Slim |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/science/india-chandrayaan-2-vikram.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911162003/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/science/india-chandrayaan-2-vikram.html |archive-date=11 September 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}

The lunar south pole region holds particular interest for scientific exploration. Studies show large amounts of ice there. The ice could contain solid-state compounds that would normally melt under warmer conditions elsewhere on the Moon—compounds which could provide insight into lunar, Earth, and Solar System history. Mountains and craters create unpredictable lighting that protect the ice from melting, but they also make landing there a challenging undertaking for scientific probes. For future crewed missions and outposts, the ice could also be a source of oxygen, of drinking water as well as of fuel due to its hydrogen content.{{Cite web |last=Mahoney |first=Erin |date=17 August 2022 |title=Moon's South Pole is Full of Mystery, Science, Intrigue |url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/moons-south-pole-is-full-of-mystery-science-intrigue |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823195759/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/moons-south-pole-is-full-of-mystery-science-intrigue/ |archive-date=23 August 2023 |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=NASA}}{{Cite news |date=23 August 2023 |title=Explainer: Why are countries racing to the moon's heavily cratered south pole? |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/science/why-are-countries-racing-moons-heavily-cratered-south-pole-2023-08-23/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824184917/https://www.reuters.com/science/why-are-countries-racing-moons-heavily-cratered-south-pole-2023-08-23/ |archive-date=24 August 2023}}

The European Space Tracking network (ESTRACK), operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), and Deep Space Network operated by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of NASA are supporting the mission.{{Cite news |title=Chandrayaan-3 How NASA, ESA will support ISRO during the Moon landing on August 23 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chandrayaan-3-how-nasa-esa-will-support-isro-during-the-moon-landing-on-august-23/article67216311.ece |url-status=live |access-date=30 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825040104/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chandrayaan-3-how-nasa-esa-will-support-isro-during-the-moon-landing-on-august-23/article67216311.ece |archive-date=25 August 2023}}.

Under a new cross-support arrangement, ESA tracking support could be provided for upcoming ISRO missions such as those of India's first human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, and the Aditya-L1 solar research mission. In return, future ESA missions will receive similar support from ISRO's own tracking stations.{{Cite web |title=ESA and Indian space agency ISRO agree on future cooperation |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ESA_Ground_Stations/ESA_and_Indian_space_agency_ISRO_agree_on_future_cooperation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321160634/https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ESA_Ground_Stations/ESA_and_Indian_space_agency_ISRO_agree_on_future_cooperation |archive-date=21 March 2022 |access-date=16 April 2022 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}

For the first time on the lunar surface, a laser beam from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was broadcast on 12 December 2023, and it was reflected back by a tiny NASA retroreflector on board the Vikram lander. The purpose of the experiment was to determine the retroreflector's surface location from the moon's orbit. The Chandrayaan-3 lander's Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) instrument began acting as a location marker close to the lunar south pole. Through multinational cooperation, the LRA was housed on the Vikram lander. On a hemispherical support framework, it consists of eight corner-cube retroreflectors. This array enables any orbiting spacecraft equipped with appropriate instruments to use lasers ranging from different directions. The 20 gram passive optical instrument is intended to survive for several decades on the lunar surface.

ISRO's mission objectives for the Chandrayaan-3 mission are:

1. Engineering and implementing a lander to land safely and softly on the surface of the Moon.
2. Observing and demonstrating the rover's driving capabilities on the Moon.
3. Conducting and observing experiments on the materials available on the lunar surface to better understand the composition of the Moon.{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 Details |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_Details.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823165138/https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_Details.html |archive-date=23 August 2023 |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=Indian Space Research Organization}}

Chandrayaan-3 comprises three main components: a propulsion module, lander module, and rover.

File:LVM3 M4, Chandrayaan-3 - Render of Encapsulated Payload Fairing with Chandrayaan-3 composite stack.png|Chandrayaan-3 encapsulated within LVM3's payload fairing

File:Chandrayaan-3 Integrated Module - Views.webp|Chandrayaan-3 integrated components

The propulsion module carried the lander and rover configuration to a {{convert|100|km|adj=on}} lunar orbit. It was a box-like structure with a large solar panel mounted on one side and a cylindrical mounting structure for the lander (the Intermodular Adapter Cone) on top.{{Cite web |title=NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CHANDRYN3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608231611/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CHANDRYN3 |archive-date=8 June 2022 |access-date=10 June 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2 January 2020 |title=Chandrayaan-3 to cost Rs 615 crore, launch could stretch to 2021 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-to-cost-rs-615--crore-launch-could-stretch-to-2021/articleshow/73055941.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119155006/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-to-cost-rs-615--crore-launch-could-stretch-to-2021/articleshow/73055941.cms |archive-date=19 November 2021 |access-date=3 January 2020 |newspaper=The Times of India}}

A few months after the conclusion of the lander portion of the mission, ISRO officials said that the propulsion module was equipped with two radioisotope heating units (RHU), designed and developed by BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre). RHUs keep spacecraft at their operational temperature using the decay of radioactive material, to generate electricity to power heaters. Chandrayaan-3 project director P Veeramuthuvel said ISRO may use nuclear resources to maintain instruments in future rovers. ISRO officials later said the RHUs could not be installed on Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover because it would have increased their mass. This reduced their maximum lifespan to 14 Earth days, or 1 lunar day.{{Cite news |date=31 October 2023 |title=Nuclear energy keeps Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module going |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/nuclear-energy-keeps-chandrayaan-3-propulsion-module-going/articleshow/104834737.cms |access-date=1 November 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 carried nuclear technology to Moon: What was it used for? |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/chandrayaan-3-carried-nuclear-technology-to-moon-what-was-it-used-for-2456584-2023-11-01 |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=India Today |date=November 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=1 November 2023 |title=Chandrayaan 3's giant leap: Nuclear energy fuels propulsion module orbiting moon |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/chandrayaan-3-giant-leap-nuclear-energy-fuels-propulsion-module-orbiting-moon-101698831358614.html |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} On 4 December 2023, ISRO reported that the propulsion module was reinserted into an orbit around the Earth. The primary objective of the reinsertion was to allow Earth observations by spectral and polarimetric instruments.{{Cite news |author=|date=5 December 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module moves from lunar orbit to earth orbit |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chandrayaan-3-propulsion-module-moves-from-lunar-orbit-to-earths-orbit/article67605509.ece |access-date=5 December 2023 |issn=0971-751X}} It operated until 22 August 2024.

File:Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module.webp|Propulsion module

The Vikram lander was responsible for the soft landing on the Moon. It is also box-shaped, with four landing legs and four landing thrusters capable of producing 800 newtons of thrust each. It carried the rover and had various scientific instruments to perform on-site analysis.{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Jatan |title=Chandrayaan-3 Makes Historic Touchdown on the Moon |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chandrayaan-3-makes-historic-touchdown-on-the-moon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031414/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chandrayaan-3-makes-historic-touchdown-on-the-moon/ |archive-date=24 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 in its last leg of journey to moon |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/video/chandrayaan-3-in-its-last-leg-of-journey-to-moon-2423766-2023-08-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821051212/https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/video/chandrayaan-3-in-its-last-leg-of-journey-to-moon-2423766-2023-08-20 |archive-date=21 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=India Today |date=20 August 2023 |language=en}} The lander has four variable-thrust engines with slew rate changing capabilities, unlike Chandrayaan-2's lander, which had five, with the fifth one being centrally mounted and capable only of fixed thrust. One of the main reasons for Chandrayaan-2's landing failure was altitude increase during the camera coasting phase. This was removed by allowing the lander to control altitude and thrust during all phases of descent. Altitude correction rate was increased from Chandrayaan-2's 10°/s to 25°/s with Chandrayaan-3. Additionally, the Chandrayaan-3 lander is equipped with a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) to allow measuring altitude in three directions.{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Chethan |date=19 November 2019 |title=Chandrayaan-3 plans indicate failures in Chandrayaan-2 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-plans-indicate-failures-in-chandrayaan-2/articleshow/72128771.cms |url-status=live |access-date=15 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121090445/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-plans-indicate-failures-in-chandrayaan-2/articleshow/72128771.cms |archive-date=21 November 2019}}{{Citation |title=After 4 Years, ISRO Reveals Why Chandrayaan 2 FAILED | date=8 August 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oUdD_QSgRs |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810172742/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oUdD_QSgRs&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live |language=en |archive-date=10 August 2023}} The impact legs were made stronger compared to Chandrayaan-2 and instrumentation redundancy was improved. It targeted a more precise {{cvt|16|km2|sqmi}} landing region based on images provided by the Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC) onboard Chandrayaan-2's orbiter. ISRO improved the structural rigidity, increased polling in instruments, increased data frequency and transmission, and added additional multiple contingency systems to improve lander survivability in the event of failure during descent and landing.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Shaurya |date=21 October 2022 |title=Chandrayaan-3 To Be More Robust, Have Contingency Systems Onboard, Says ISRO Chief |url=https://www.news18.com/news/tech/chandrayaan-3-to-be-more-robust-have-contingency-systems-onboard-says-isro-chief-6216451.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022080431/https://www.news18.com/news/tech/chandrayaan-3-to-be-more-robust-have-contingency-systems-onboard-says-isro-chief-6216451.html |archive-date=22 October 2022 |access-date=22 October 2022 |website=News18 |language=en}}

File:Chandrayaan-3 Lander.webp|Lander

The Pragyan rover is a six-wheeled vehicle with a mass of {{convert|26|kg|lb|abbr=off}}. It is {{convert|917|x|750|x|397|mm}} in size.{{Cite web |title=NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CHANDRYN3#:~:text=The%20Pragyan%20(Sanskrit%20for%20%22wisdom,lander%20via%20Rx/Tx%20antennas. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608231611/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CHANDRYN3#:~:text=The%20Pragyan%20(Sanskrit%20for%20%22wisdom,lander%20via%20Rx/Tx%20antennas. |archive-date=8 June 2022 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov}} The rover is expected to take multiple measurements to support research into the composition of the lunar surface, the presence of water ice in the lunar soil, the history of lunar impacts, and the evolution of the Moon's atmosphere.{{Cite web |last=Livemint |date=16 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 highlights: Lander Vikram will be 30 km away from Moon today |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chandrayaan3-live-updates-isros-lunar-mission-indian-spacecraft-landing-on-moon-russia-luna-25-moon-mission-11692151720010.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819200245/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chandrayaan3-live-updates-isros-lunar-mission-indian-spacecraft-landing-on-moon-russia-luna-25-moon-mission-11692151720010.html |archive-date=19 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sharmila Kuthunur |date=23 August 2023 |title=India on the moon! Chandrayaan-3 becomes 1st probe to land near lunar south pole |url=https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-success |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823150626/https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-success |archive-date=23 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

File:Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan rover.png|Pragyan rover

• Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) will measure the thermal conductivity and temperature of the lunar surface.
• Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) will measure the seismicity around the landing site.
• Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere—Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) will estimate the near-surface plasma density over time.{{Cite web |title=ISRO Chandrayaan 3 brochure |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/LVM3/LVM3M4_Chandrayaan3_brochure.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710120424/https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/LVM3/LVM3M4_Chandrayaan3_brochure.pdf |archive-date=10 July 2023 |access-date=14 July 2023}}
• Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) supplied by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center serving as a fiducial marker on the moon.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=19 January 2024 |title=NASA spacecraft pings India's Chandrayaan-3 lander on the moon |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/nasa-spacecraft-pings-indias-chandrayaan-3-lander-on-the-moon/article67755589.ece |access-date=22 January 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

File:ChaSTE payload.png|Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)

File:ILSA payload.png|Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)

File:Rambha-payload.png|Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere—Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP)

• An alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) will derive the chemical composition and infer the mineralogical composition of the lunar surface.
• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) will determine the elemental composition (Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) of lunar soil and rocks around the lunar landing site.

File:APXS payload.png|Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS)

File:LIBS payload.png|Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)

• Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) will study spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit in the near-infrared radiation (NIR) wavelength range (1–1.7 μm). Findings of SHAPE might aid in future exoplanet research and search for extraterrestrial life.{{Cite web |title=NASA – NSSDCA – Experiment – Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=CHANDRYN3-01#:~:text=The%20Spectropolarimetry%20of%20Habitable%20Planet,and%20the%20search%20for%20life. |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov}}

File:SHAPE payload.png|Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE)

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File:LVM3 M4, Chandrayaan-3 - Launch vehicle lifting off from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota 03.webp

Chandrayaan-3 was launched aboard an LVM3-M4 rocket on 14 July 2023, at 09:05 UTC from Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, entering an Earth parking orbit with a perigee of {{convert|170|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and an apogee of {{convert|36500|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. On 15 November 2023, the Cryogenic Upper Stage (C25) of the rocket (NORAD ID: 57321) made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere around 9:12 UTC. The impact point is predicted over the North Pacific Ocean and the final ground track did not pass over India.{{Cite web |title=Technical details for satellite GSLV R/B |url=https://www.n2yo.com//satellite/?s=57321 |access-date=18 November 2023 |website=N2YO.com – Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions}}{{Cite news |author= |date=15 November 2023 |title=Cryogenic upper stage of Chandrayaan-3's launch vehicle makes uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/part-of-chandrayaan-3-launch-vehicle-makes-uncontrolled-re-entry-into-earths-atmosphere-isro/article67537794.ece |access-date=18 November 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |date=17 November 2023 |title=Cryogenic upper stage LVM-3 that launched Chandrayaan-3 makes re-entry |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cryo-upper-stage-lvm-3-that-launched-chandrayaan-3-makes-re-entry/articleshow/105250654.cms |access-date=18 November 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}

After a series of Earth bound manoeuvres that placed Chandrayaan-3 in a trans-lunar injection orbit,{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission takes off with a successful launch as rocket hoists lunar lander and rover – CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-mission-launch-rocket-lunar-lander-and-rover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822120100/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-mission-launch-rocket-lunar-lander-and-rover/ |archive-date=22 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=India launches its Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing mission |url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/isro/india-launches-its-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-mission/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817095213/https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/isro/india-launches-its-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-mission/ |archive-date=17 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=SpaceFlight Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 update: Isro to fire up engines, put spacecraft on road to moon |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/chandrayaan-3-update-isro-to-conduct-trans-lunar-injection-tonight-put-spacecraft-on-road-to-moon-2414052-2023-07-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801033942/https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/chandrayaan-3-update-isro-to-conduct-trans-lunar-injection-tonight-put-spacecraft-on-road-to-moon-2414052-2023-07-31 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=India Today |date=31 July 2023 |language=en}} ISRO performed a lunar-orbit insertion (LOI) on 5 August, successfully placing the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into an orbit around the Moon. The LOI operation was carried out from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.{{Cite web |last=THE HINDU BUREAU |date=5 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft enters lunar orbit |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chandrayaan-3-enters-lunar-orbit/article67161942.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806022920/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chandrayaan-3-enters-lunar-orbit/article67161942.ece |archive-date=6 August 2023 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=The Hindu}}{{Cite web |last=Grey |first=Charles |date=6 August 2023 |title=India's Chandrayaan-3 Successfully Inserted Into Lunar Orbit |url=https://airspacenews.net/indias-chandrayaan-3-successfully-inserted-into-lunar-orbit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806143515/https://airspacenews.net/indias-chandrayaan-3-successfully-inserted-into-lunar-orbit/ |archive-date=6 August 2023 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=AIR SPACE News |language=en-US}}

On 17 August, the Vikram lander separated from the propulsion module to begin landing operations.{{Cite news |date=17 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3: Indian lunar lander Vikram inches closer to Moon |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66530022 |url-status=live |access-date=23 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823141116/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66530022 |archive-date=23 August 2023}}

File:Image of Chandrayaan-3 Lander captured by OHRC camera aboard Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter.webp

File:Chandrayaan-3 – Image of Vikram lander on lunar surface taken by Pragyan rover navcam at 1104 IST, 30 August 2023 from 15 meters away (without text).webp

File:Pragyan rover deployed on the moon.webp

On 23 August 2023, as the lander approached the low point of its orbit, its four engines fired as a braking manoeuvre at {{convert|30|km|mi}} above the Moon's surface. After 11.5 minutes, the lander was 7.2 km (4.5 miles) above the surface; it maintained this altitude for about 10 seconds, then stabilized itself using eight smaller thrusters and rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position while continuing its descent.

It then used two of its four engines to slow its descent to roughly {{convert|150|m|ft}}; it hovered there for about 30 seconds and located an optimal landing spot before continuing downward and touching down at 12:33 UTC.{{Cite news |date=23 August 2023 |title=India Is on the Moon: Lander's Success Moves Nation to Next Space Chapter |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/science/chandrayaan-3-india-moon-landing.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823172509/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/science/chandrayaan-3-india-moon-landing.html |archive-date=23 August 2023}}

File:Moon as captured by the Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC) aboard Chandrayaan-3 lander on 15 August 2023.webm|The Moon photographed by the Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC) aboard Chandrayaan-3 lander on 15 August 2023

File:View from the Lander Imager Camera-1 (LI-1) on 17 August 2023 just after the separation of the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module from the Propulsion Module.webm|View from the Lander Imager Camera-1 (LI-1) on 17 August 2023 just after the separation of the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module from the Propulsion Module

File:Chandrayaan-3 – Mission Profile.webp|Chandrayaan-3 orbital manoeuvre

File:The lunar crater that the Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 encountered on 27th August 2023, as seen by the Navgation Camera.png

On 3 September, the rover was put into sleep mode after it had completed all of its assignments. Its batteries were charged and receiver left on, according to ISRO, in preparation for the impending lunar night.{{Cite news |last=Chaturvedi |first=Arpan |date=3 September 2023 |title=Mission accomplished, India puts moon rover to 'sleep' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/mission-accomplished-india-puts-moon-rover-sleep-2023-09-03/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917044507/https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/mission-accomplished-india-puts-moon-rover-sleep-2023-09-03/ |archive-date=17 September 2023}} "The rover's payloads are turned off and the data it collected has been transmitted to Earth via the lander", the statement said. Chandrayaan-3's lander and rover were expected to operate only for one lunar daylight period, or 14 Earth days, and the on-board electronics were not designed to withstand the {{Convert|-120|C|F}} nighttime temperatures on the Moon.{{Cite news |date=3 September 2023 |title=India's moon rover completes its walk, scientists analysing data looking for signs of frozen water |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indias-moon-rover-completes-its-walk-scientists-analysing-data-looking-for-signs-of-frozen-water/articleshow/103321114.cms |url-status=live |access-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917044506/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indias-moon-rover-completes-its-walk-scientists-analysing-data-looking-for-signs-of-frozen-water/articleshow/103321114.cms |archive-date=17 September 2023 |issn=0013-0389}} On 22 September, the lander and rover missed their wake-up calls,{{Cite news |title=India struggles to wake up Vikram Moon lander and Pragyan rover on lunar mission |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-23/indian-pragyan-space-rover-struggles-to-wake-up-after-landing/102893030 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=22 September 2023}}{{Cite news |title=India's Moon Lander Misses Wake-Up Call After Successful Mission |work=The New York Times |date=22 September 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/22/science/india-moon-landing-chandrayaan-3.html |last1=Chang |first1=Kenneth}} and by 28 September neither had responded, diminishing hopes for further surface operations.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2023 |title=ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 does not wake up as hope dims for Vikram and Pragyan |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/isro-chandrayaan-3-wake-up-pragyan-vikram-8956686/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Hop experiment

Vikram fired its engines for a brief 'hop' on the lunar surface on 3 September, ascending {{Cvt|40|cm|in}} off the lunar surface and translating a similar distance laterally across the surface.{{Cite web |date=4 September 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram comes up with a surprise, makes a 'jump' on the Moon |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/chandrayaan-3-lander-vikram-hops-on-moons-surface-says-isro-8923440/ |access-date=3 October 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} The test demonstrated capabilities to be used in potential future sample return missions. The instruments and rover deployment ramp were retracted for the hop and redeployed afterwards.{{Cite tweet |number=1698570774385205621 |user=isro |title=Vikram Lander exceeded its mission objectives. It successfully underwent a hop experiment. On command, it fired the engines, elevated itself by about 40 cm as expected and landed safely at a distance of 30 – 40 cm away. Importance?: This 'kick-start' enthuses future sample return and human missions! All systems performed nominally and are healthy. Deployed Ramp, ChaSTE and ILSA were folded back and redeployed successfully after the experiment. |last=ISRO |date=4 September 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Vikram lander's sudden hop on the Moon: Why it's a big deal |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/vikram-landers-sudden-hop-on-the-moon-why-its-a-big-deal-2430701-2023-09-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904104001/https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/vikram-landers-sudden-hop-on-the-moon-why-its-a-big-deal-2430701-2023-09-04 |archive-date=4 September 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=India Today |date=4 September 2023 |language=en}}

The propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 was moved out of lunar orbit to an orbit around Earth.{{Cite web |title=ISRO brings back Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module from Moon to Earth's orbit |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/video/isro-brings-back-chandrayaan-3-propulsion-module-from-moon-to-earths-orbit-2472458-2023-12-05 |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=India Today |date=5 December 2023 |language=en}} Although the plan was to operate SHAPE for three months in lunar orbit, it was decided to utilise over 100{{nbsp}}kg of fuel left in the PM after one month of operation to derive additional information for future lunar missions, and determine strategies for sample return missions and gravity-assisted flyby missions. ISRO's flight dynamics team had developed software to be validated through these return manoeuvres.

The first lunar bound apogee raising manoeuvre was executed on 9 October 2023 raising the apogee from 150 km to 5112 km and orbital period from 2.1 hours to 7.2 hours. The Trans-Earth Injection was done on 13 October 2023 with a targeted orbit of ~380,000 x 180,000 km. This was followed by four lunar flyby's with the last one on 7 November 2023. The module exited lunar SOI on 10 November 2023 and had the first perigee crossing on 22 November 2023 at an altitude of about 154,000 km. The propulsion module is currently orbiting Earth with a perigee and apogee altitude that vary during its trajectory and the predicted minimum perigee altitude is {{Convert|115000|km|mi}}, with an orbital period of nearly 13 days with 27 degree inclination. The SHAPE payload is operated whenever Earth is in its field of view, as well during special events such as the 28 October 2023 solar eclipse. The SHAPE payload operations are planned to continue further.{{Cite web |title=Returns to home Earth: Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module moved from Lunar orbit to Earth's orbit |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_Propulsion_Module_moved_from_Lunar_orbit_to_Earth_orbit.html |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=www.isro.gov.in}} The Propulsion module operated until 22 August 2024.

{{multiple image

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| footer = {{legend2|Magenta| Chandrayaan-3 PM}}{{·}}{{legend2| RoyalBlue| Earth}}{{·}}{{legend2|Lime| Moon}}

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• Propulsion module: Carries lander and rover to {{convert|100x100|km|adj=on}} orbit, with operation of experimental payload for up to six months but lasted for more than an year.{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 Brochure |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/LVM3/LVM3M4_Chandrayaan3_brochure.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710120424/https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/LVM3/LVM3M4_Chandrayaan3_brochure.pdf |archive-date=10 July 2023 |website=Indian Space Research Organisation}}
• Lander module: one lunar daylight period (14 Earth days).
• Rover module: one lunar daylight period (14 Earth days).

• ISRO chairman: S. Somanath{{Cite news |date=11 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 just 2k-km from lunar surface |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/chandrayaan-3-just-1k-km-from-lunar-surface/articleshow/102590128.cms |url-status=live |access-date=12 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812053927/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/chandrayaan-3-just-1k-km-from-lunar-surface/articleshow/102590128.cms |archive-date=12 August 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}
• Mission director: S. Mohanakumar{{Cite web |date=23 August 2023 |title=With Chandrayaan-3 set to land today, meet key scientists behind ISRO moon mission |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-scientists-isro-8905504/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031413/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-scientists-isro-8905504/ |archive-date=24 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
• Associate mission director: G. Narayanan{{Cite web |last=Nirvaan |date=4 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan 3 Price, Budget, Cost, (Orbiter, Lander, and Rover) |url=https://www.pmsarkariyojanahindi.com/chandrayaan-3-price/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031417/https://www.pmsarkariyojanahindi.com/chandrayaan-3-price/ |archive-date=24 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=PM Sarkari Yojana Hindi |language=en-US}}
• Project director: P. Veeramuthuvel{{Cite news |date=23 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 {{!}} Not just sons of Tamil Nadu but State's soil itself contributed to Moon mission |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chandrayaan-3-landing-not-just-sons-of-tamil-nadu-but-states-soil-itself-contributed-to-moon-mission/article67225959.ece |access-date=23 August 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}
• Associate project director: Kalpana Kalahasti{{Cite web |title=The making of Chandrayaan-3: collaborative effort under the 'ISRO culture' |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Making_Chandrayaan3_ISRO_culture.html |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}
• Vehicle director: Biju C. Thomas{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=Chandrayaan 3 Launch Live: India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission lifts off from Sriharikota |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-launch-live-updates-isro-moon-landing-mission-countdown-launch-time-sriharkota-how-to-watch/liveblog/101739131.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717084941/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-launch-live-updates-isro-moon-landing-mission-countdown-launch-time-sriharkota-how-to-watch/liveblog/101739131.cms |archive-date=17 July 2023 |access-date=14 July 2023 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}

In December 2019, ISRO requested the initial funding of the project, amounting to {{INRConvert|750 | c|lk=on}}, out of which {{INRConvert|600| c|lk=on}} would be for meeting expenditure towards machinery, equipment, and other capital expenditure, while the remaining {{INRConvert|150|c|lk=on}} was sought for operating expenditure.{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Chethan |date=8 December 2019 |title=ISRO seeks 75 crore more from Centre for Chandrayaan-3 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isro-seeks-75-crore-more-from-centre-for-chandrayaan-3/articleshow/72421303.cms |url-status=live |access-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120005130/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/isro-seeks-75-crore-more-from-centre-for-chandrayaan-3/articleshow/72421303.cms |archive-date=20 January 2021}} Amit Sharma, CEO of an ISRO vendor, said, "With local sourcing of equipment and design elements, we are able to reduce the price considerably."{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Nivedita |date=24 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 punches home India's lead in budget space flights |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/chandrayaan-3-punches-home-indias-lead-budget-space-flights-2023-08-24/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826172756/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/chandrayaan-3-punches-home-indias-lead-budget-space-flights-2023-08-24/ |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=Reuters}}

Confirming the existence of the project, ISRO's former chairman K. Sivan stated that the estimated cost would be around {{INRConvert|615|c|lk=|year=2020}}.{{Cite web |date=2 January 2020 |title=Chandrayaan-3 to cost Rs 615 crore, launch could stretch to 2021 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-to-cost-rs-615-crore-launch-could-stretch-to-2021/articleshow/73055941.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230181930/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-to-cost-rs-615-crore-launch-could-stretch-to-2021/articleshow/73055941.cms |archive-date=30 December 2020 |access-date=3 January 2020 |newspaper=The Times of India}}{{Cite web |date=15 July 2023 |title=How much did India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission cost? |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/science/chandrayaan-3-cost-budget-isro-launch-july-14-space-lunar-mission-moon-landing-17222551.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717125549/https://www.cnbctv18.com/science/chandrayaan-3-cost-budget-isro-launch-july-14-space-lunar-mission-moon-landing-17222551.htm |archive-date=17 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023 |website=CNBC}}{{Cite web |last=Mike Wall |date=18 August 2023 |title=India's Chandrayaan-3 snaps close-up photos of moon ahead of landing try (video) |url=https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-photos-august-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823141114/https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-photos-august-2023 |archive-date=23 August 2023 |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en}}

The Associated Press, while commenting on the success of the mission, said, "The successful mission showcases India's rising standing as a technology and space powerhouse and dovetails with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's desire to project an image of an ascendant country asserting its place among the global elite."{{Cite web |date=3 September 2023 |title=India's moon rover completes its walk. Scientists analyzing data looking for signs of frozen water |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-moon-rover-mission-task-completed-16cdb5c791fd90d0ca1e76d2d6d36bf8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917044508/https://apnews.com/article/india-moon-rover-mission-task-completed-16cdb5c791fd90d0ca1e76d2d6d36bf8 |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=3 September 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}} About results on water existence, "There was no word on the outcome of the rover searches for signs of frozen water on the lunar surface (...)".

ISRO also released data from the observations made by ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment), one of the four instruments present on the lander module. ChaSTE was designed to study the heat conductivity of the Moon's surface and measure the differences in temperatures at different points on and below the surface, with the overall objective of creating a thermal profile of the Moon.

File:The graph of temperature variation across the lunar topsoil at a point in the solar polar region, as measured by the ChaSTE instrument.png

ISRO scientist BH Darukesha said the high range of {{convert|70|C|abbr=off|adj=on}} temperature near the surface was "not expected".{{Cite web |date=27 August 2023 |title=70-degree Celsius moon surface temperature was not expected: Scientists |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/70degree-celcius-moon-surface-temperature-was-not-expected-scientists-101693156089990.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829201905/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/70degree-celcius-moon-surface-temperature-was-not-expected-scientists-101693156089990.html |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

On 29 August, ISRO reported that the laser-induced breakdown spectroscope (LIBS) instrument on board the Pragyan rover has "unambiguously" confirmed the presence of sulfur in the lunar surface near the south pole, through "first-ever in-situ measurements".{{Cite web |date=29 August 2023 |title=India's moon rover confirms sulfur and detects several other elements near the lunar south pole |url=https://apnews.com/article/indias-moon-mission-finds-chemicals-a0f5b3c91fd71c2a3ae573d4048a5d05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829215324/https://apnews.com/article/indias-moon-mission-finds-chemicals-a0f5b3c91fd71c2a3ae573d4048a5d05 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 rover confirms presence of sulphur in lunar surface, search for Hydrogen underway: ISRO |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/chandrayaan-3-rover-confirms-presence-of-sulphur-in-lunar-surface-search-for-hydrogen-underway-isro/cid/1962438 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829201908/https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/chandrayaan-3-rover-confirms-presence-of-sulphur-in-lunar-surface-search-for-hydrogen-underway-isro/cid/1962438 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}} The presence of sulfur on the Moon has been known before;{{Cite journal |last1=Vaniman |first1=D. |last2=Pettit |first2=D. |last3=Heiken |first3=G. |date=1992 |title=Uses of lunar sulfur |url=https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1992lbsa.conf..429V |url-status=live |journal=Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century |publisher=SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) |page=429 |bibcode=1992lbsa.conf..429V |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830133125/https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1992lbsa.conf..429V |archive-date=30 August 2023 |access-date=30 August 2023}} however, it was detected for the first time at the south pole by the rover.{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 rover finds sulphur on moon's south pole – The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/Aug/30/chandrayaan-3-rover-finds-sulphur-on-moons-south-pole-2609954.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830141016/https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/30/chandrayaan-3-rover-finds-sulphur-on-moons-south-pole-2609954.amp |archive-date=30 August 2023 |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=www.newindianexpress.com|date=9 August 2023}}

Noah Petro, a project scientist at NASA, while speaking to the BBC, stated that while sulfur has been known to be in the lunar regolith from Apollo program samples, he described Pragyan{{'}}s findings as a "tremendous accomplishment".{{Cite web |date=30 August 2023 |title=What has India's rover been up to on the Moon? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66654775 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830110124/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66654775 |archive-date=30 August 2023 |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Apart from sulfur, the rover also detected other elements including aluminium (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O).{{Cite web |date=30 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover confirms presence of sulfur on surface of Moon |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chandrayaan3-confirms-presence-of-sulphur-on-moon-s-surface-in-first-in-situ-recordings-hydrogen-search-underway-101693335242683.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829201905/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chandrayaan3-confirms-presence-of-sulphur-on-moon-s-surface-in-first-in-situ-recordings-hydrogen-search-underway-101693335242683.html |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} The agency said it is also searching for hydrogen (H).{{Cite web |date=29 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3: Pragyaan rover detects presence of sulphur on Moon, search for hydrogen underway |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/chandrayaan-3-pragyaan-rover-detects-presence-of-sulphur-on-moon-search-for-hydrogen-underway-396161-2023-08-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829170550/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/chandrayaan-3-pragyaan-rover-detects-presence-of-sulphur-on-moon-search-for-hydrogen-underway-396161-2023-08-29 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=Business Today |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Padma |first=T. V. |date=8 September 2023 |title=India's Moon mission: four things Chandrayaan-3 has taught scientists |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02852-7 |url-status=live |journal=Nature |volume=621 |issue=7979 |page=456 |language=en |doi=10.1038/d41586-023-02852-7 |pmid=37726438 |bibcode=2023Natur.621..456P |s2cid=261620796 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914171729/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02852-7 |archive-date=14 September 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023}}

File:Ch3 1st libs plot 2.png

On 31 August, ISRO released plasma density data from the RAMBHA Instrument aboard the Vikram lander. Initial assessments reported relatively low plasma densities above the lunar surface varying from 5 to 30 million electrons per m³. The evaluation pertains to early stages of the lunar day. The probe aims to explore the changes in the near-surface plasma environment throughout the duration of the lunar day.{{Cite web |title=RAMBHA-LP on-board Chandrayaan-3 measures near-surface plasma content |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_Rambha-LP_near-surface_Plasma.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917044514/https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_Rambha-LP_near-surface_Plasma.html |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}

On the same day, ISRO released data from the ILSA payload on the lander, providing vibration measurements of the rover movement on 25 August, and a presumed natural event on 26 August. The cause of the latter event is a subject of investigation,{{Cite web |title=ILSA listens to the movements around the landing site |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_ILSA_Listens_Landing_Site.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917045041/https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_ILSA_Listens_Landing_Site.html |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=31 August 2023 |website=www.isro.gov.in}} it is suspected to be a moonquake.

The ChaSTE probe penetrated into the lunar soil to carryout measurements for the entire duration of the mission. ChaSTE in-situ measurements were carried out for a significant fraction of a lunar day (~8 AM - 4 PM Local time at the Moon) i.e. approximately 10 Earth days (i.e. from 24 Aug. - 2 Sept. 2023) at an interval of about a second.{{Cite web |title=India Bags the Credit for First-Ever In-Situ Measurement of the Topmost Fluffy Layer of the Moon's Surface at Southern Higher Latitudes: New Insight about Harbouring Water-ice on the Moon |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/India_Bags_Credit_First-Ever_In-Situ_Measurement.html |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=www.isro.gov.in |language=en}}

File:ChaSTE_tempsensor_loco.jpg

In research published in March 2025, ChaSTE observations during the mission indicated that the lunar surface temperatures show a significant spatial variability at metre scales at high latitudes, unlike at the equatorial regions. These effects become prominent as we move towards poles, an important aspect that should be considered for future exploration. .The peak surface temperature at landing site was measured to be 355 K (± 0.5 K), a temperature relatively higher than ~330 K (±3K), predicted by earlier observations. This unexpected higher temperature is due to penetration of ChaSTE on the Sun-ward (equator-ward) facing surface with a slope of ~6o. Lunar surface temperature measured from a flat surface using an independent sensor, about a metre away from ChaSTE location, was found to be ~332K (±1K), which is consistent with orbiter based remote sensing observation (~330 K).

By understanding how well the surface layer conducts heat and how much heat it can hold, as done by ChaSTE, scientists can figure out how heat moves around, predict temperatures below the surface, and see how sunlight interacts with the Moon. This would also help engineers to find subsurface locations with benign thermal environment and design safe places to plan future trips and live on the Moon.

Chandrayaan-3's landing live stream on ISRO's official YouTube channel received eight million concurrent viewers,{{Cite web |date=15 September 2023 |title=YouTube CEO Neal Mohan congratulates ISRO for getting more than 8 mn concurrent viewers for Chandrayaan-3 landing |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/youtube-ceo-neal-mohan-congratulates-isro-for-getting-more-than-8-mn-concurrent-viewers-for-chandrayaan-3-landing-398533-2023-09-15 |access-date=18 September 2023 |website=Business Today |language=en}} which is the highest in YouTube's history for a live video.{{Cite web |last=Mukhopadhyay |first=Sounak |date=24 August 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 becomes world's most viewed live-stream on YouTube |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chandrayaan3-makes-history-on-youtube-becomes-world-s-most-viewed-livestream-11692840580927.html |access-date=18 September 2023 |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=25 August 2023 |title=ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 landing broke YouTube record: 10 most-watched live streams |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isros-chandrayaan-3-landing-broke-youtube-record-10-most-watched-live-streams-101692948495321.html |access-date=18 September 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

Congratulating the ISRO team behind the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network in Bengaluru, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the touchdown point of the Vikram lander would henceforth be known as Statio Shiv Shakti.{{Cite web |date=25 August 2023 |title=Modi in Bengaluru Live Updates: Touchdown point of Vikram lander will be known as "shivshakti point", says PM |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-live-news-updates-traffic-weather-isro-chandrayaan-8908491/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826050751/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-live-news-updates-traffic-weather-isro-chandrayaan-8908491/ |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He further declared 23 August, the day the Vikram lander landed on the Moon, as National Space Day.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=Modi in Bangalore Live: August 23 to be celebrated as National Space Day, announces PM Modi after ISRO Chandrayaan 3 Moon landing success |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-news-live-updates-isro-moon-landing-mission-vikram-lander-pragyan-rover-latest-photos-videos/liveblog/103038996.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826045031/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-3-news-live-updates-isro-moon-landing-mission-vikram-lander-pragyan-rover-latest-photos-videos/liveblog/103038996.cms |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=26 August 2023 |title=PM Modi announces August 23 as 'National Space Day', lauds Isro scientists |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-declares-august-23-as-national-space-day-chandrayaan-3-lands-successfully-on-moon-s-south-pole-101693025185154.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826111334/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-declares-august-23-as-national-space-day-chandrayaan-3-lands-successfully-on-moon-s-south-pole-101693025185154.html |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

ISRO chief S. Somanath proclaimed "India is on the Moon" after the successful touchdown.{{Cite web |date=23 August 2023 |title='India First To Reach Moon's South Pole': ISRO Celebrates After Chandrayaan-3 Touchdown |url=https://news.abplive.com/science/india-first-to-reach-moon-s-south-pole-isro-celebrates-after-chandrayaan-3-touchdown-1624964 |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=ABP Live}} "We learnt a lot from our failure and corrected it. It's now 14 days of work and we have to conduct experiments," he told India Today.{{Cite web |title='Learnt from failure…': Isro chief S Somnath after Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/isro-chief-s-somnath-interview-after-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-2425642-2023-08-23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824103141/https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/isro-chief-s-somnath-interview-after-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-2425642-2023-08-23 |archive-date=24 August 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=India Today |date=23 August 2023 |language=en}}

P Veeramuthuvel, the project director of the mission said, "It's a great moment of happiness. On behalf of the team it gives me immense satisfaction on achieving this goal as the Project Director of the mission. The entire mission operations right from launch till landing happened flawlessly as per the timeline".{{Cite news |date=24 August 2023 |title=Team leaders behind the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/team-leaders-behind-the-success-of-chandrayaan-3-mission/articleshow/102996952.cms |url-status=live |access-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917045042/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/team-leaders-behind-the-success-of-chandrayaan-3-mission/articleshow/102996952.cms |archive-date=17 September 2023 |issn=0971-8257}} S. Mohana Kumar, the mission director, said that Chandrayaan-3 was a "team effort".{{Cite web |last=The Hindu Bureau |date=1 September 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 was a team effort, says Mission Director S. Mohana Kumar |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/chandrayaan-3-was-a-team-effort-says-mission-director-s-mohana-kumar/article67260300.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917045010/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/chandrayaan-3-was-a-team-effort-says-mission-director-s-mohana-kumar/article67260300.ece |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=1 February 2025 |website=The Hindu}}

Meanwhile, former ISRO chief K Sivan, under whose tenure the Chandrayaan-2 was launched said, "We are really excited to see this grand success. For this, we have been waiting for the last four years. This success is sweet news for us and for the entire nation."{{Cite web |title="Waiting For This For Last 4 Years": Ex ISRO Chief On Chandrayaan-3 Success |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-isro-chief-k-sivan-on-chandrayaan-3-success-waiting-for-this-for-last-4-years-4323273 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826043420/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-isro-chief-k-sivan-on-chandrayaan-3-success-waiting-for-this-for-last-4-years-4323273 |archive-date=26 August 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=NDTV.com}}

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of congress, also celebrated Chandrayaan-3's success, calling it a result of "tremendous ingenuity and hard work" by the country's scientific community. "Since 1962, India's space program has continued to scale new heights and inspire generations of young dreamers," he posted on X.{{Cite web |title=RahulGandhiX |url=https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1694335813700694179 |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated the scientists of ISRO on the successful landing and termed it a "historic" moment. He wrote "This is historical. It's a significant achievement for the country. It's a matter of pride for all of us. The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a result of the hard work of all citizens, ISRO scientists, engineers, and employees. Congratulations to everyone involved. Bharat Mata ki jai."{{Cite web |title=Kejriwal |url=https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1694331572877656208 |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}

DY Chandrachud, the chief justice of India hailed the landing as "a milestone in the onward march of our nation" and congratulated the ISRO team.{{Cite web |date=23 August 2023 |title=CJI DY Chandrachud hails Chandrayaan-3 landing on Moon's South Pole as historic |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cji-dy-chandrachud-chandrayaan3-landing-moon-south-pole-historic-101692804170971.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917045016/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cji-dy-chandrachud-chandrayaan3-landing-moon-south-pole-historic-101692804170971.html |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said: "Incredible! Congratulations to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3, and to all the people of India!! What a way to demonstrate new technologies AND achieve India's first soft landing on another celestial body. Well done, I am thoroughly impressed."{{Cite news |date=23 August 2023 |title=Reactions as India's Chandrayaan-3 makes historic moon landing |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/science/view-reactions-indias-chandrayaan-3-makes-historic-moon-landing-2023-08-23/ |access-date=27 October 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/isro-scripts-history-world-leaders-react-to-chandryaan-3s-successful-landing-11692803044943.html | title=ISRO scripts history; world leaders react to Chandryaan-3's successful landing | date=23 August 2023}}{{Cite news |title=Moon landing: NASA, ESA congratulate India on success of Chandrayaan-3 mission |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/nasa-esa-congratulate-india-on-success-of-chandrayaan-3-mission/articleshow/102992595.cms |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=The Economic Times|date=24 August 2023 }}

Abdulla Shahid, the foreign minister of Maldives, wrote "As a South Asian nation, and neighbour, we are proud of the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3 near the moon's south pole. This is a success for all of humanity! Opening new avenues for new areas of exploration."

Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA wrote "Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing and congratulations to India on being the 4th country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon. We're glad to be your partner on this mission".{{Cite web |date=24 August 2023 |title=Historical: World congratulates India on Chandrayaan-3's success; Pakistan, China remain silent |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/history-created-world-leaders-react-to-chandryaan-3s-successful-landing-628416/amp |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=WION}}

Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa said "This for us, as the BRICS family, is a momentous occasion and we rejoice with you. We join you in the joy of this great achievement."

The Kremlin quoted Russian president Vladimir Putin's message to Indian president Droupadi Murmu and Modi, "Please, accept my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the successful landing of the Indian space station Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon near its South Pole. This is a big step forward in space exploration and certainly a testament to the impressive progress made by India in the area of science and technology".{{Cite web |date=23 August 2023 |title='Big step forward in space exploration': Putin on India's Chandrayaan 3 landing |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-landing-updates-august-23-2023-russia-vladimir-putin-congratulates-india-president-droupadi-murmu-pm-modi-101692807680323.html |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

Nepal prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said "I congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and ISRO team of India on successful landing of Chandrayan-3 in the surface of the moon today and unleashing of a historic achievement in science and space technology."

The Exploration Museum has bestowed upon ISRO the esteemed Leif Erikson Lunar Prize in honor of the space agency's resolute dedication and noteworthy advancements in lunar exploration in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Tripathi |first=Sibu Kumar |date=20 December 2023 |title=Isro awarded Leif Erikson Lunar Prize for exploring Moon with Chandrayana-3 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/isro-awarded-leif-erikson-lunar-prize-for-exploring-moon-with-chandrayana-3-2478279-2023-12-20 |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=India Today |language=en}}

In recognition of its accomplishments with the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission in 2023, ISRO has been bestowed with the esteemed Aviation Week Laureates Award. Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador at the Indian Embassy in the US, accepted the award on behalf of ISRO.{{Cite web |last=Tripathi |first=Sibu Kumar |date=19 March 2024 |title=Isro gets Aviation Week Laureates Award for historic Chandrayaan-3 mission |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/isro-gets-aviation-week-laureates-award-for-historic-chandrayaan-3-mission-2516883-2024-03-19 |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=India Today |language=en}}

The Chandrayaan-3 mission team has raised the bar for space exploration, and for that reason, they have been awarded the prestigious 2024 John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration. On 8 April 2024, at the opening ceremony of the annual Space Symposium in Colorado, India's Consul General D C Manjunath accepted the prize on behalf of the Indian Space Research Organization.{{Cite news |date=9 April 2024 |title=Chandrayaan-3 team receives 2024 John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/chandrayaan-3-team-receives-2024-john-l-jack-swigert-jr-award-for-space-exploration/articleshow/109171723.cms |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}

The International Astronautical Federation has presented Chandrayaan-3 with the World Space Award. The award presentation is slated to take place on October 14 in Milan, during the 75th International Astronautical Congress opening ceremony.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-21 |title=Chandrayaan-3 awarded World Space Award for historic milestone |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/chandrayaan-3-awarded-world-space-award-for-historic-milestone/articleshow/111891879.cms |access-date=2024-07-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} According to the International Astronautical Federation, Chandrayaan-3 mission by ISRO exemplifies the synergy of scientific curiosity and cost-effective engineering.{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-10-14 |title=ISRO chairman S. Somanath receives IAF World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-chairman-s-somanath-receives-iaf-world-space-award-for-chandrayaan-3s-remarkable-achievement/article68752947.ece |access-date=2024-10-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

• List of missions to the Moon
• {{annotated link|Lunar Polar Exploration Mission}}
• Aditya-L1 – Indian solar observation mission
• Gaganyaan – Indian crewed spacecraft project
• Indian Human Spaceflight Programme
• Indian Martian Exploration Programme
• Venus Orbiter Mission – Indian Venus exploration mission

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• [https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_Details.html Chandrayaan-3 ISRO official site]
• Chandrayaan-3 Image Gallery- [https://www.isro.gov.in/chandrayaan3_gallery.html LVM3-M4 Gallery]
• Orbital and Lunar Surface operation videos- [https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_Video_Lunar_Orbit_Insertion.html Chandrayaan-3 Videos]

{{Indian space programme}}

{{Lunar rovers}}

{{Lunar landers}}

{{Moon spacecraft}}

{{Indian spacecraft}}

{{Solar System probes}}

{{Orbital launches in 2023}}

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