BackChandrayaan-2 successfully completes its last earth-bound maneuver
The maneuver was undertaken at around 3:04 pm as planned, when ISRO scientists fired the mission module using the on-board propulsion systemThe mission has now successfully completed all its five earth-bound maneuvers and would prepare for the trans-lunar injection on August 14
PremiumNew Delhi: India’s second mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-2 has successfully completed its fifth and last earth-bound maneuver on Tuesday, announced Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
The maneuver was undertaken at around 3:04 pm as planned, when the scientists at the national space agency fired the mission module using the on-board propulsion system for a firing duration of 1041 seconds.
Chandrayaan-2, which was revolving around Earth at an orbit of 277 x 89472 km, has now moved to orbit of 276 x 1, 42,975 km.
“All spacecraft parameters are normal," said ISRO, soon after the exercise.
With this, the mission has successfully completed all its five earth-bound maneuvers and would now prepare for the trans-lunar injection on August 14. This exercise would put the mission module into trajectory that would bring it closer to the moon. If everything goes as planned, Chandrayaan-2 would reach Moon’s orbit on August 20.
Led by two senior women scientists, Project Director Muthayya Vanitha and Mission Director Ritu Karidhal, it is the country’s most ambitious space mission till date. India would not only attempt its first sever ‘soft landing’ on the lunar surface, but also explore a part of the moon, where no country has ever gone before – near the Moon’s south polar region.
After this, it would engage in lunar bound maneuvers to put it into the desired orbit around then moon. If everything goes as planned, the spacecraft would reach moon by August 20. Once it is successfully placed in the orbit, the Lander Vikram would separate from the Orbiter and prepared for its historic ‘soft landing’.
The soft landing on the moon would be attempted on September 7. Both Lander Vikram and Rover Pragyan would remain on the lunar surface for 14 earth days, while orbiter would revolve around the moon for a period on one year.
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