Chandrayaan-3 returns to the Moon for rare flyby, sends critical data

Chandrayaan-3’s Propulsion Module (CH3-PM) has achieved a rare and scientifically significant milestone by re-entering the Moon’s sphere of influence (SOI) for a series of lunar flybys, more than two years after the historic soft landing of the mission’s lander and rover in August 2023.

This unique gravitational tour has provided the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) with a treasure trove of operational data, offering new insights into spacecraft navigation and orbital mechanics.

Launched on July 14, 2023, aboard an LVM3 rocket from Sriharikota, the Chandrayaan-3 mission was primarily designed to demonstrate a safe lunar landing, enable rover operations , and conduct crucial in-situ scientific experiments.

The spacecraft was split into three modules: the Lander, the Propulsion