The cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle, which on July 14 of this year successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into its target orbit, made an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, the ISRO stated. It said that this rocket body was a part of the LVM-3 M4 launch vehicle. It returned to Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday at 14:42 IST.
The Indian Space Research Organisation stated in a statement, “The probable impact point was predicted over the North Pacific Ocean. The final ground track did not pass over India.”
The rocket body re-entered the atmosphere 124 days after its launch. According to ISRO, the LVM3 M4 cryogenic upper stage’s post-mission orbital lifetime is fully compliant with the “25-year rule” for low-Earth orbit as recommended by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC).
ISRO added, “Passivation and post-mission disposal of this rocket body in adherence to the internationally accepted guidelines once again reaffirms India’s commitment to preserve the long-term sustainability of outer space activities”