A senior Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) official on Monday said the final landing maneuver is a very complex one and the decision for touchdown will be taken two hours prior to the action. A top official in the agency mentioned that it can be “postponed” if the situation is unfavourable. Chandrayaan-3’s Moon landing is scheduled for touchdown at 6:04 pm on August 23 based on module health and lunar conditions. The space agency also said it established contact with Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module will make a touchdown on the surface of the Moon at 6:04 pm on Wednesday. With less than 30 hours to go for the landing, the Lander Module of the lunar craft is trying to locate a spot for perfect landing on the Moon’s surface, which will lead to a historic landing.
A senior ISRO scientist has said that “if any factors appear to be unfavourable, then the module’s landing will be postponed to August 27.”
The real work for the ISRO scientists will start after the touchdown as they will be busy with the rover operations for one lunar day or 14 days on Earth. The scientists will have to analyse tonnes of data coming from five scientific instruments on board the landed and rover.