Chandrayaan 3 landing: What's next after Moon mission? Here's what ISRO is planning

While all eyes are on Chandrayaan 3 and India's second attempt to land on the Moon, space agency ISRO has other significant missions and tests in the pipeline.

First is pre-testing for the Gaganyaan astronaut mission, for which ISRO might conduct two abort missions this year, and an unmanned mission in early 2024.

The actual sending of Indian astronauts to space might happen in 2024 or 2025 if all the tests are successful.

India is also collaborating with the US to send an astronaut to the International Space Station next year.

Then there is India's first solar mission. The launch window for Aditya L1 is between August this year and January next year.

ISRO's second mission to Mars is currently in the "study" phase. ISRO is also working on a reusable launch vehicle, like SpaceX rockets.

An autonomous landing test was successful in April, and more tests are in the pipeline.

Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 and its objectives are to demonstrate safe and soft-landing on the lunar surface, roving on the Moon, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

Chandrayaan-2 had failed in its lunar phase when its lander 'Vikram' crashed into the surface of the Moon following anomalies in the braking system in the lander while attempting a touchdown on September 7, 2019. Chandrayaan's maiden mission was in 2008.

The Rs 600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole.

Also watch: Chandrayaan 3: From finding water to mapping sodium - what ISRO's previous Moon missions achieved

The soft-landing is being attempted days after Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the Moon after spinning out of control.

After the second and final deboosting operation on August 20, the LM is placed in a 25 km x 134 km orbit around the Moon.

The module would undergo internal checks and await the sun-rise at the designated landing site, ISRO has said, adding that the powered descent -- to achieve soft-landing on the Moon's surface -- is expected to be initiated at around 5:45 pm on Wednesday.

The critical process of soft-landing has been dubbed by many including ISRO officials as "17 minutes of terror", with the entire process being autonomous when the lander has to fire its engines at the right times and altitudes, use the right amount of fuel, and scan of the lunar surface for any obstacles or hills or craters before finally touching down.

(with PTI inputs)