Chandrayaan-3’s Propulsion Module (CH3-PM) has successfully carried out a rare lunar flyby, delivering valuable scientific and navigational data that will aid India’s upcoming deep space missions.
The module, which became a part of history after the Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved a soft landing on August 23, 2023, had been orbiting Earth since October 2023 following its Trans-Earth Injection manoeuvre.
According to NASA, CH3-PM re-entered the Moon’s Sphere of Influence on November 4, 2025. It completed its first flyby on November 6 at a distance of 3,740 km from the lunar surface, and a second flyby on November 11 at 4,537 km, which was tracked by the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN). The module is expected to exit the lunar SOI on November 14.
The flybys significantly reshaped the spacecraft’s orbit—from 100,000 × 300,000 km to 409,000 × 727,000 km—and reduced its inclination from 34° to 22°. ISRO’s Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network monitored the module closely to ensure it maintained a safe distance from other lunar orbiters and space objects.
ISRO scientists said the data collected during the flyby will strengthen mission planning, flight dynamics, and understanding of gravitational effects, boosting India’s capabilities for future lunar and deep space explorations.