Bangalore: A day after lander ‘Vikram’ was separated from Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Tuesday it has successfully performed the first de-orbiting manoeuvre for the spacecraft.
ISRO will perform one more de-orbit manoeuvre Wednesday, before the powered descent September 7 for its landing in the south polar region of the moon.
“The first de-orbiting manoeuvre for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was performed successfully today (September 03, 2019) beginning at 0850 hrs IST as planned, using the onboard propulsion system. The duration of the manoeuvre was four seconds,” ISRO said in an update.
“The orbit of Vikram Lander is 104 km x 128 km. Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in the existing orbit and both the Orbiter and Lander are healthy,” it said and added that the next de-orbiting manoeuvre is scheduled September 4, between 03.30 and 04.30 hours IST.
In a key event of India’s second moon mission Chandrayaan-2, lander ‘Vikram’ was separated from the orbiter Monday. Vikram (with rover ‘Pragyan’ housed inside) is expected to touch down on the surface of the moon between 1.30am and 2.30am (IST), September 7.
Two de-orbit manoeuvres of Vikram Lander, to bring it further down, have been planned to prepare for its landing on the moon.
Following the landing, the rover ‘Pragyan’ will roll out from lander ‘Vikram’ between 5.30am and 6.30am September 7, and carry out experiments on the lunar surface for a period of one lunar day, which is equal to 14 earth days. The mission life of the lander is also one lunar day, while the orbiter will continue its mission for a year.
PTI
