Chennai: The Indian space agency Sunday evening successfully completed the fifth and final lunar bound orbit change for the ‘Chandrayaan-2’ spacecraft. According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the spacecraft’s maneuver began at 6.21pm using its onboard propulsion system for 52 seconds. All spacecraft parameters are normal.
The next crucial operation is the separation of Vikram, the lander, from the spacecraft scheduled for September 2 at 12.45pm -1.45pm
“The final and fifth Lunar bound orbit manoeuvre for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was performed successfully today (September 01, 2019) beginning at 1821 hours IST as planned, using the onboard propulsion system. The duration of the manoeuvre was 52 seconds. The orbit achieved is 119 km x 127 km,” ISRO said in an update.
After Vikram’s separation, there will be two de-orbital operations September 3 and 4 so that it could soft land on the moon’s south pole September 7 at 1.30am- 2.30am
Chandrayaan-2 was launched July 2 into space by the country’s heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III) in text book style.
The spacecraft comprises three segments – the ‘Orbiter’ (weighing 2,379kgg, eight payloads), the lander ‘Vikram’ (1,471kg, four payloads) and rover ‘Pragyan’ (27kg, two payloads).
ISRO chairman K Sivan has said the proposed soft-landing on the Moon would be a ‘terrifying’ moment as it is something ISRO has not done before, whereas the Lunar Orbit Insertion manoeuvre was successfully carried out during the Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Agencies
