Published: 12:48, August 20, 2023 | Updated: 12:52, August 20, 2023
Indian moon module slows down ahead of landing
By Xinhua

Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-3, the word for "moon craft" in Sanskrit, travels after it was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, July 14, 2023.(PHOTO / AP)

NEW DELHI - The speed of the lander module of India's third Moon Mission, "Chandrayaan-3", was successfully reduced further before landing, confirmed the country's space agency the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

It was placed in orbit of 25 km x 134 km in the early hours of Sunday. The module now is supposed to undergo internal checks before finally preparing to land on the Lunar surface on Wednesday, according to ISRO.

ISRO tweeted, "The second and final de-boosting operation has successfully reduced the LM orbit to 25 km x 134 km. The module would undergo internal checks and await the sun-rise at the designated landing site. The powered descent is expected to commence on Aug. 23, 2023, around 17:45 pm India Time."

ALSO READ: Indian Moon mission's lander module gets separated from spacecraft

India's Moon Mission-3 was launched on July 14. The lander module had got separated from the spacecraft on Thursday, as its first de-boosting took place two days ago.