Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module Reshapes Orbit After Lunar Flybys

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has concluded an extended operational phase for the Chandrayaan-3 mission's Propulsion Module (PM), involving a return to the Moon's Sphere of Influence (SOI) and subsequent orbital reshaping maneuvers throughout November 2025. This phase, occurring more than two years after the historic landing of the lander and rover in August 2023, provided ISRO with critical data on spacecraft dynamics beyond its primary operational zone.

The PM re-entered the lunar SOI on November 4, 2025, following its Trans-Earth Injection in October 2023. The module executed two distinct lunar flybys, demonstrating robust trajectory control managed by the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC). The initial pass occurred on November 6, 2025, at 7:23 UT, with a closest approach of 3,740 kilometers above the lunar surface, which placed it outside the tracking range of the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN). A second flyby followed on November 11, 2025, at 23:18 UT, passing within 4,537 kilometers of the Moon and returning within IDSN visibility for detailed monitoring.

These gravitational interactions substantially altered the module's orbital characteristics, a key technical achievement for ISRO's flight dynamics teams. The initial orbit parameters, set after lander separation, were approximately 100,000 by 300,000 kilometers; however, the flybys expanded this configuration to a wider range of 409,000 by 727,000 kilometers. Furthermore, the orbital inclination decreased from an initial 34 degrees to 22 degrees relative to the lunar plane, showcasing precise, long-term orbital management.

The spacecraft's performance remained nominal throughout these complex maneuvers, with ISRO officials confirming no close approaches with other operational lunar orbiters or threats from Beyond Earth Space Objects. The data gathered from this extended mission segment is valuable for enhancing the understanding of disturbance torques effects and refining mission planning for future deep space endeavors. This post-primary mission utilization extends the utility of the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload aboard the PM, which was operated during this period to study Earth's spectral and polarimetric signatures from lunar orbit.

The successful execution of these maneuvers, following the July 14, 2023, launch and the August 23, 2023, landing, underscores ISRO's growing expertise in maximizing mission longevity and extracting additional scientific value from spacecraft components after primary objectives are met. The PM was anticipated to exit the Moon's SOI on November 14, 2025, concluding this extended gravitational tour.