GOOD NEWS ON CHANDRAYAAN 3 PROPULSION MODULE SET TO LAST LONGER
EVEN BEFORE ISRO ATTEMPTS TO SOFT LAND VIKRAM THE LANDER ON AUGUST 2023 WITH MORE THAN 150 KG OF FUEL LEFT THE PROPULSION MODULE WHICH WAS INITIALLY EXPECTED TO HAVE A LIFE OF 3 TO 6 MONTHS IS EXPECTED TO LIVE ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
ISRO CHAIRMAN S SOMANATH TOLD IT HAS TOO MUCH FUEL WAY BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS.THERE'S A LOT OF FUEL LEFT AS EVERYTHING WAS VERY NOMINAL ON THE WAY TO THE MOON AND THERE WERE NO CONTINGENCIES REQUIRING CORRECTIONS FOR WHICH FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPENDED
THE PROPULSION MODULE WAS LOADED WITH 1696.4 KG OF FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE LAUNCH ON JULY 14 AND DID ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING -FIVE EARTH BOUND MANOEUVRES AND FIVE LUNAR -BOUND MANOEURVES BEFORE SEPARATING FROM THE LANDING MODULE-BETWEEN JULY 15 AND AUGUST 17
WITH 150+KG FUEL STILL LEFT IN THE MODULE,IT COULD GO AROUND THE MOON FOR MUCH LONGER THAN THE INITIAL DESIGN ESTIMATE OF THREE -SIX MONTHS.ISRO SAID IT COULD BE FOR MONTHS/YEARS WITHOUT SPECIFYING TIME FRAME.
MEANWHILE IF THE SECOND DE-BOOST MANOEUVRE OF THE LANDING MODULE SCHEDULED AT 2AM SUNDAY SUCCEEDS,VIKRAM WOULD BE ALL SET FOR THE POWER DESCENT FOR SOFT-LANDING.
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