Chandrayaan 2 enters lunar orbit today

The Chandrayaan-2 moon mission has successfully entered the lunar orbit today at 9:02 am using the on-board propulsion system. As per a press release issued by ISRO, the satellite has been placed in 114 Kilometres-by-18072 Kilometres orbit and the duration of manoeuvre was 1738 seconds. 

After the successful lunar orbit ion of Chandrayaan-2 , ISRO Chairman Dr.K Sivan informed that the plan is to touch down on the surface of the moon in south pole at 1.55 am on 7th September.

Addressing the press he said that the lander Vikram will be separated from the orbiter on 2nd September and on 4th September the lander will reach nearest to the surface of the moon at 35 Kilometres. After three days, the descending will begin on the surface of the moon on 7th of September at 1.40 a.m. and by 4.00 a.m. the Rover Pragyan will roll down the ramp of lander and touch the surface of the moon.

Following this a series of four-orbit manoeuvres will be performed, including the one tomorrow, to reach an orbit of 100 Kilometres over the surface of the moon. The lander and rover within it will separate from the Orbiter at this stage and soft-land on the South Pole of the moon on 7th of September. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the ISRO team for the successful manoeuvre of the moon mission into the lunar orbit.

Congratulations to Team @isro on #Chandrayaan2 entering the Moon's orbit. This is an important step in the landmark journey to the Moon.

Best wishes for its successful culmination.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 20, 2019