Chandrayaan-3: Timeline of ISRO's moon missions from 2003 to 2023

Ahead of Chandrayaan-3 launch from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh today (July 14), here is the timeline of the moon mission as undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

August 15, 2003: Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announces the Chandrayaan programme.

October 22, 2008: Chandrayaan-1 takes off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Also read: Chandrayaan 3: How Tamil Nadu is connected with ISRO’s lunar mission

November 8, 2008: Chandrayaan-1 enters a Lunar Transfer Trajectory.

November 14, 2008: The Moon impact probe ejects from Chandrayaan-1 and crashes near the lunar South Pole – confirming the presence of water molecules on Moon’s surface.

August 28, 2009: End of Chandrayaan 1 programme as per ISRO.

Watch: ISRO scientists seek blessings with Chandrayaan-3 model at Tirupati temple

July 22, 2019: Chandrayaan-2 launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

August 20, 2019: Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft inserted into lunar orbit.

September 2, 2019: Vikram Lander was separated while orbiting the moon in a 100kms lunar polar orbit, however, communication from the lander to the ground stations was lost at an altitude of 2.1 km from the surface of the moon.

Also read: Chandrayaan-3: All eyes on ISRO as country eagerly awaits lunar mission launch on July 14

July 14, 2023: Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft scheduled to lift off from the second launchpad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

August 23/24, 2023: Scientists at ISRO have tentatively scheduled soft landing on the lunar surface expected to take place by August 23-24 making India join elite nations to achieve the feat.