The Chandrayaan-3 mission has a scheduled launch time of 2.35pm on July 14 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It is a continuation of Chandrayaan-2 and aims to demonstrate the ability to safely land and move on the lunar surface.
The lander of Chandrayaan-3 is expected to touch down gently on the Moon’s surface on August 23 or 24.
To watch the launch, you can register at https://lvg.shar.gov.in/VSCREGISTRATIO to witness it from the Launch View Gallery at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, where the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has invited citizens to attend.
Please bring your Aadhar card, driving license, or any government-issued ID, as well as your mobile number and email ID for a quick and hassle-free registration process. Additionally, Covid-19 precautions mandate that visitors must present either a vaccination certificate (with 2 doses) or a negative Covid-19 certificate. Make sure to bring the necessary proof in either hard copy or digital format if requested.
The Launch View Gallery, inaugurated in 2019, is part of the Space Theme Park currently under construction, which also includes a Rocket Garden and a Space Museum. The Space Museum is open to the public and provides a comprehensive account of the Indian space program across six sections, covering history, education, technology, applications, global aspects, and the future.
If you are unable to attend in person, you can also watch the historic launch online at Isro’s official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@isroofficial5866. A live link will also be available on Isro’s official website on the day of the launch: https://www.isro.gov.in/.
The main scientific objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission include studying the thermal and physical properties of the lunar surface, lunar seismic activity, the lunar environment, and the elemental composition near the landing site. The mission aims to demonstrate safe and gentle landing on the Moon, rover mobility on the lunar surface, and conducting scientific experiments in situ.
In addition to the scientific instruments on the lander and rover, there will be an experimental instrument to study the spectro-polarimetric signatures of the Earth from the lunar orbit, contributing to the theme of ‘Science from the Moon’, as stated by Isro officials.
Earlier this year, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft successfully passed essential tests to confirm its ability to withstand the intense vibrations and noise during launch. Isro recently integrated the Chandrayaan-3 module with the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) and announced the completion of all electrical tests for LVM3-M4/Chandrayaan-3.