After Chandrayaan-3, these are the missions rushing to Moon in 2023

Moon truly has become hotbed for space exploration as several private and government-owned agencies have planned ir missions to Earth's nearest neighbour. In second half of 2023 alone, five missions are launching to Moon. race starts with ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 lifting off on July 14 at 2:35 pm. While ISRO has its fingers crossed for  historic mission, here is a look at companies that will follow suit. 

Russia's Luna 25

After multiple delays, it seems like Russia's Luna 25 mission is rey to lift off possibly in mid-August. It is safe to say that Roscosmos is prepared to launch this time as lander was delivered to  Vostochny Cosmodrome. lander will be launched aboard Soyuz rocket and it will mark Russia's return to Moon after more than three deces. last mission launched from Russian soil back in 1976 when Soviet Union was still in existence. Named Luna 24, mission fetched about 170 grams of soil. Weighing approximately 800 kg, lander is carrying 30 kg of scientific paylos for lunar exploration. 

( Luna-25 lander; Image: Roscosmos)

Japan's SLIM

 Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is anor lunar mission being developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). It is scheduled to launch from Yoshinobu Launch Complex at JAXA Tanegashima Space Center on August 26 and launch window runs till September 15. lander will liftoff as a ride-share paylo with X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and will attempt a pinpoint landing on lunar surface. 

"It will also test technology fundamental to exploration in low-gravity environments, an important requirement for future scientific investigation of solar system," JAXA said in a statement. This would be second lunar mission of a Japanese origin attempting a lunar landing in recent times. first was HAKUTO-R mission from a private firm ispace which launched on December 11 last year but crashed in April 2023. 

(Japan's SLIM lander; Image: JAXA)

Intuitive Machines' IM-1 mission

Texas-based Intuitive Machines is also planning to launch its lunar mission IM-1 in  third quarter of 2023. company has named its lander Nova-C which will liftoff aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. IM says that its lander will spend nearly one-Earth day orbiting Moon before attempting a landing, first by a private US company. This firm has won multiple contracts for NASA under commercial lunar program and will carry several scientific paylos of US space agency and or customers. However, an official update on progress of mission is awaited. 

(Artist's representation of Nova-C lander; Image: Intuitive Machines)

Astrobotic's Peregrine M1

Pennsylvania-based Astrobotic is targeting launch of its Peregrine Mission One in late 2023 with 14 NASA paylos to lunar surface.  company has been long claiming that its lander is rey to launch and updated in February this year that it is waiting to be shipped to Florida. Peregrine will launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan rocket. However, rocket will launch no earlier than late 2023 due to repair work going on in its first stage, ULA confirmed to Ars Technica's Eric Berger.  

( Peregrine lander; Image: Astrobotics)