Mumbai: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Tuesday confirmed that the Vikram Lander Durbit maneuver was successfully carried out between 9 am and 10 am IST. With the latest maneuvers, Vikram Lander has attained an orbit of 104 x 128 km around 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 maneuver was 4 seconds,” ISRO update said.
ISRO successfully separated Vikram Lander from Chandrayaan 2 orbiter at 1:15 pm IST on Monday. Vikram Lander was located in an orbit 119 x 127 km after separation. The Chandrayaan 2 orbiter orbits the Moon in its current orbit.
The next deorbiting maneuver for Vikram Lander is scheduled for the early hours of Wednesday. According to ISRO, the new deorbit maneuver will take place between 3:30 am and 4:30 am.
As per ISRO’s provisional plan for future operations after today’s maneuvers, a second Deorbit maneuver is planned for Wednesday where Chandrayaan 2’s Vikram Lander 36 will be placed in an orbit of X110 km.
Once the second deorbit is successful, ISRO will start a descent that will operate from late evening on Friday. After the lander is separated from the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter, it will be placed in an orbit of 30 X 100 km around the Moon.
ISRO will perform a series of complex braking maneuvers to soft-land in the South polar region of the moon on September 7. The Vikram Lander touchdown is scheduled on September 7 at around 1:30 – 2:30 am.
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