Bengaluru, India - ISRO scientists have achieved a significant milestone in the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission as they successfully completed the fifth and final orbit-raising manoeuvre, propelling the spacecraft closer to the Moon. This crucial Earth-bound perigee firing took place from ISTRAC/ISRO in Bengaluru. The spacecraft is expected to enter an orbit of 127609 km x 236 km, though final confirmation will come after observations.

The fifth manoeuvre was executed on the 11th day following the spacecraft's launch, marking an important stage in the mission's progress. ISRO has scheduled the next critical firing, the TransLunar Injection (TLI), for August 1, to be conducted between 12 midnight and 1 am IST.

Chandrayaan-3 is on course to reach the Moon's South Pole for a soft landing, with the planned touchdown of the lander and rover on the lunar surface expected around August 23-24. Upon a successful landing, India will join an elite group of countries, becoming the fourth nation after the United States, Russia, and China to achieve this feat.

The lander, named 'Vikram,' will deploy four scientific payloads to study the moon's surface temperature and subterranean characteristics. Among these instruments is 'Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth' (SHAPE), designed to gather data on light emission and reflection from Earth.
Meanwhile, the 6-wheeled Rover 'Pragyan' will venture out to explore the Moon's surface through chemical tests for a span of 14 days. The Rover is equipped with multiple cameras that will transmit images back to Earth and is powered by a solar panel to charge its battery during the mission.