Earth-bound orbit of India’s 2nd lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 further raised

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The earth-bound orbit of India’s second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 has further been raised early this morning, in preparation of its journey to the South Pole of the moon. 

The ISRO team carried out the orbit-raising manoeuvre early this morning, at 01.08 hrs. It was accomplished by burning the engine onboard the aircraft for 14 minutes, 43 seconds. The national space agency has said, all spacecraft parameters are normal. This is the second such manoeuvre since its launch on the 22nd of this month, the first being done on Wednesday. 

With today’s operation, the spacecraft’s orbit has been increased by a total of 9354 kilometres at the farthest point from the earth, as compared to its initial ion during the launch. Three more such manoeuvres are being planned by the ISRO during the earth-centric phase of Chandrayaan-2, the next being in the afternoon on the 29th of this month. 

On 14th August, it is planned to nudge the spacecraft away from its earth-centric orbit to begin its trans-lunar trajectory. Before soft-landing on the moon, Chandrayaan-2 will require a total of fifteen such manoeuvres, as said by ISRO.