The uncontrolled re-entry of Chandrayaan 3’s cryogenic upper stage into Earth’s atmosphere concluded with an anticipated landing in the North Pacific Ocean, as reported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This event occurred around 14:42 IST on Wednesday, according to ISRO’s statement. Chandrayaan 3, India’s third lunar mission, successfully launched on July 14, and its Vikram lander, along with the Pragyan Rover, achieved a controlled landing on the moon’s surface on August 23. Following ten days of lunar exploration, the lander and rover entered a sleep mode, while the propulsion module continued orbiting the moon.
ISRO confirmed that the rocket body, identified as NORAD id 57321, was part of the launch vehicle responsible for injecting the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into its intended orbit. This orbit had a range of 133 km x 35823 km with a 21.3-degree inclination, and the re-entry occurred within 124 days of the launch. Importantly, ISRO emphasized that this re-entry adhered to the “25-year rule” recommended by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee for Low Earth Orbit objects.
After launching Chandrayaan-3, the upper stage underwent “passivation” to remove any remaining propellant and energy sources. This passivation process aims to minimize the risk of accidental explosions and aligns with space debris mitigation guidelines outlined by the United Nations and IADC (Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee). ISRO’s commitment to adhering to international guidelines for the passivation and post-mission disposal of the rocket body reaffirms India’s dedication to ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
