Chandrayaan 2 update: First earth bound maneuver successful

First earth bound orbit-raising maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft has been performed successfully today (July 24, 2019) at 14:52 hrs (IST) as planned, using the onboard propulsion system for a firing duration of 57 seconds. The new orbit will be 230 x 45163 km.

The second orbit raising maneuver is scheduled on July 26, 2019, at 01:09 hrs (IST).

Over the next 20 days, it would remain in the Earth's sphere of influence, but its orbit would be continuously raised using the onboard propulsion system. A series of 15 critical maneuvers would be performed to help Chandrayaan-2 move closer to the moon, which is revolving around the earth at a distance of nearly 3.4 lakh km.

The first five maneuvers would be carried out before the translunar injection is performed on August 14. This is crucial propulsion exercise which would help set the spacecraft on a trajectory that will cause it to arrive at the Moon. If everything goes as planned, the spacecraft would reach the moon's orbit by August 20.