Bengaluru, Nov 16 : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle, responsible for successfully placing the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into orbit on July 14 this year, experienced an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
This particular rocket body, a component of the LVM-3 M4 launch vehicle, re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 14:42 IST on Wednesday. ISRO stated that the projected impact point was over the North Pacific Ocean, and the final ground track did not cross over India.
The re-entry occurred within 124 days of the launch, and ISRO emphasized that the post-mission orbital lifetime of the LVM3 M4 cryogenic upper stage adhered to the “25-year rule” established by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) for low-Earth orbit objects.
Following the injection of Chandrayaan-3, the upper stage underwent “passivation” to eliminate all residual propellant and energy sources, aligning with space debris mitigation guidelines outlined by the United Nations and IADC. ISRO underlined that the passivation and post-mission disposal activities align with internationally accepted standards, emphasizing India’s dedication to preserving the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
