Chandrayaan-2: Major Success For ISRO; Vikram Lander Successfully Separates From Orbiter

The Vikram Lander is currently located in an orbit of 119 km x 127 km. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in its existing orbit.

Image tweeted by ISRO

New Delhi: In a huge success for India’s moon mission Chnadrayaan-2, the Vikram Lander has successfully separated from Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter at 1:15 pm on Monday. The Vikram Lander is currently located in an orbit of 119 km x 127 km. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in its existing orbit. The health of the Orbiter and Lander is being monitored from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru with support from Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) antennas at Bylalu, near Bengaluru. All the systems of Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter and Lander are healthy. The next maneuver is scheduled tomorrow (September 03, 2019) between 08:45-09:45 am .

#ISRO Vikram Lander Successfully separates from #Chandrayaan2 Orbiter today (September 02, 2019) at 1315 hrs IST.

For details please visit https://t.co/mSgp79R8YP pic.twitter.com/jP7kIwuZxH — ISRO (@isro) September 2, 2019

After Vikram's separation, there will be two de-orbital operations on September 3 and 4 so that it could soft land on the moon's south pole on September 7 at 1.30 a.m.- 2.30 a.m. On July 22, the Rs 978 crore Chandrayaan-2 was launched into the space by India's heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III) in a text book style. The spacecraft comprises three segments - the Orbiter (weighing 2,379 kg, eight payloads), the lander 'Vikram' (1,471 kg, four payloads) and rover 'Pragyan' (27 kg, two payloads).