ISRO reported that Chandrayaan-3’s LVM3 M4 cryogenic upper stage abruptly re-entered Earth’s atmosphere despite complying with the 25-year restriction for low-Earth orbit objects. The rocket body was passivated to prevent inadvertent detonation. ISRO is also holding a space robotics contest for kids to develop future rovers….
The cryogenic top stage of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle, which was successfully injected into the target orbit during Chandrayaan-3’s July 14 (2023) launch, re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere uncontrolled, according to ISRO. ISRO announced the news yesterday afternoon.
ISRO announced: “North Pacific Ocean was estimated as the crash site. The final ground track missed India.”
The rocket body portion NORAD id 57321 re-entered Earth’s orbit after 124 days (six months from launch), according to ISRO’s official announcement. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) stated that the post-mission orbital lifespan of LVM3 M4 cryogenic upper stage met the ‘25-year rule’ for low-Earth orbit objects.
After Chandrayaan-3 was injected, the upper stage underwent ‘passivation’ to remove remaining propellant and other energy sources to reduce the possibility of unintentional explosions, according to IADC and UN space debris mitigation rules.
ISRO noted, “Passivation and post-mission disposal of this rocket body in accordance with globally established rules once again underscores India’s commitment to long-term sustainability of outer space activities.”
However, the Indian space agency has welcomed students with new robotic rover concepts for future missions.
Added, “In line with this vision, UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC)/ISRO solicits from the youth of India, innovative ideas and designs of robotic rovers for future missions through the conduct of a space robotics challenge with an objective to provide development opportunities in space robotics to the participating entities and to leverage the creative thinking among the youth of our nation for ISRO interplanetary missions,” it said.
It said, “Students are invited to design and build a ‘Wheeled/Legged Rover’ using hardware and software. IRoC-U 2024 students’ answers are more likely to be used in ISRO’s interplanetary robotics missions.
Conclusion
ISRO revealed that the cryogenic top stage of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle, which was successfully injected into the desired orbit during Chandrayaan-3’s July 14, 2023 launch, re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere uncontrolled. The impact was projected over the North Pacific Ocean, and the ground track did not cross over India. Within 124 days, NORAD id 57321’s rocket body portion re-entered Earth’s orbit six months after launch. The LVM3 M4 cryogenic upper stage met the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee’s ’25-year norm’ for low-Earth orbit debris after the flight. To prevent unintended explosions, the top stage underwent ‘passivation’ after injection to remove propellant and other energy sources. ISRO reiterates India’s commitment to space sustainability.
ISRO has also asked Indian youngsters to design and build a ‘Wheeled/Legged Rover’ using hardware and software. IRoC-U 2024 students’ solutions are more likely to be used in ISRO’s interplanetary robotics missions.
