Chandrayaan-3 returns for rare lunar flyby, sends critical data

Chandrayaan-3’s Propulsion Module (CH3-PM) has successfully completed a rare flyby of the Moon, providing valuable data for future lunar missions. Originally part of the historic CH-3 mission that achieved a soft lunar landing on August 23, 2023, the PM had been orbiting the Earth since October 2023 after executing Trans-Earth Injection (TEI) manoeuvres.

According to NASA’s official statement, on November 4, 2025, CH3-PM re-entered the Moon’s Sphere of Influence (SOI), where the Moon’s gravity dominates. The first flyby occurred on November 6 at a distance of 3,740 km from the lunar surface, followed by a second flyby on November 11 at 4,537 km, which was visible from the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN). The spacecraft is expected to exit the Moon’s SOI on November 14, 2025.

These flyby events significantly altered the satellite’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 (ISTRAC) closely monitored the trajectory, ensuring safe distances from other lunar orbiters and beyond-Earth objects.

The flyby has provided crucial insights into mission planning, flight dynamics, and the effects of gravitational disturbance torques, enhancing India’s capabilities for future deep space missions.