The module that powered the historic lunar mission has returned to Earth orbit

2023-12-07 04:52:10

According to CNN, the propulsion module that powered the Indian spacecraft to its historic landing on the Moon has just returned to Earth orbit. The goal of this step is to test how lunar soil samples can be returned.

There is more fuel left in the propulsion module than the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) expected. So researchers decided to try to bring the module home, the agency said Monday.

And the module is now back in Earth orbit.

The propulsion module—a large box-shaped unit with a solar panel and a motor attached to its bottom—powered the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lunar lander for much of its journey to the moon after the spacecraft’s launch in mid-July.

Reaching lunar orbit three weeks later, the lander separated from the propulsion module and reached the surface on August 23, making India only the fourth country to land a craft on the lunar surface. Only the US, China and the former Soviet Union have previously been able to achieve this.