7.8.19

Chandrayaan-2 completes fifth orbit-raising manoeuvre

The Chandrayaan-2 mission crossed an important milestone when it successfully executed the fifth and final earth-bound orbit-raising manoeuvre using the onboard propulsion system for a firing lasting 1,041 seconds.

The orbit achieved was 276 x 1,42,975 km. According to Isro, all spacecraft parameters are normal.

The next important manoeuvre is what is known as trans-lunar injection on August 14 between 3 am and 4 am (IST). In layman’s parlance, this means Chandrayaan-2 will enter the highway to the moon. If all goes according to plan after a six-day flight, Chandrayaan-2 will enter the moon’s orbit on August 20.

Thereafter, the Vikram lander carrying the Pragyan rover, will detach from the orbiter on September 3 and the much-awaited and nail-biting touchdown on the moon is at 2.57 am on September 7.

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