Chandrayaan-2 to reach moon’s orbit on August 20: ISRO
PTI, Aug 12, 2019, 4:16 PM IST
Ahmedabad: India’s second moon mission ‘Chandrayaan-2’ is expected to reach the moon’s orbit on August 20 and land on the lunar surface on September 7, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr K Sivan said on Monday.
The spacecraft is all set to leave the earth’s orbit after two days, he told reporters here.
Sivan was on the city to take part in the birth centenary celebrations of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, regarded as the father of India’s space programme.The 3,850-kg Chandrayaan-2, a three-module spacecraft comprising orbiter, lander and rover, which was launched on July 22, would make a landing on the moon on September 7, the ISRO chief said.
“After launching Chandrayaan-2 on July 22, we did five maneuvers. The Chandrayaan-2 composite body is now revolving around the earth,” he said.
The next very important and crucial maneuver will happen on Wednesday morning.
“At around 3.30 am on August 14, we are going to have a maneuver called trans-lunar injection. By this maneuver, the Chandrayaan-2 will leave the earth and move towards the moon. On August 20, we will be reaching the moon,” he said.
“Then, we will be carrying out lunar orbit insertion. By this process, the Chandrayaan-2 will be around the moon on August 20. Subsequently, we have planned to have a series of maneuvers around the moon and finally on September 7, we will be landing on the moon near its south pole,” he added.
Sivan said the spacecraft was “doing very well” at present and all its systems were functioning properly.
He said scientists at the ISRO will be busy in coming months, particularly in December when the space agency would take up a mission to launch small satellites.
“In December, we are going to have a very important mission. It’s a small satellite launcher. This is for the first time we are going to have this mission,” he said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Modi’s ‘factory of lies’ won’t work forever: Kharge on BJP’s claims about Congress manifesto
IAF helicopter roped in to douse forest fires in Uttarakhand
Delhi court grants bail to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in ED summons evasion case
IndiGo aircraft forced to return to Delhi airport Mid-Flight due to technical issue
HC ask Centre to decide representation to include women in armed forces through CDS exam
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
69.56 per cent voter turnout recorded in Karnataka’s first phase of polling
Prabhas, Deepika’s ‘Kalki 2898-AD’ gets new release date
Delhi Capitals post 257/4 against Mumbai Indians
Deadly crash in US kills 3 women; victims reportedly from India
Modi’s ‘factory of lies’ won’t work: Kharge on BJP’s claims about Congress manifesto