Chandrayaan 2: Vikram module set for final descent for soft landing on Moon tomorrow
New Delhi, Sep 06: Chandrayaan-2's landing module 'Vikram' will begin its final descent to pull off a historic soft landing on the lunar surface on Friday night, as the Indian Space Research Organisation awaits with bated breath for the "terrifying moment."
A successful landing will make India the fourth country after Russia, the US and China to achieve a soft landing on the moon.
But it will be the first to launch a mission to the unexplored lunar south pole.
Chandrayaan-2 landing time, date, where to watch: Rover roll out time, When will first pictures come
Joined by about 60-70 high school students from across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at the ISRO centre in Bengaluru to witness live the space feat, according to officials.
'Vikram'
with
rover
'Pragyaan'
housed
inside
is
scheduled
for
a
powered-descent
between
1
am
and
2
am
on
7
September,
followed
by
its
touchdown
between
1.30
am
and
2.30
am.
The
lander
is
now
in
an
orbit
that
would
be
about
35
km
from
the
lunar
surface
at
its
nearest
point
from
where
it
will
begin
its
final
descent.
ISRO has said Chandrayaan-2 will attempt to soft-land the lander and rover in a high plain between two craters, Manzinus C and Simpelius N, at a latitude of about 70 south.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan said the proposed soft landing on the Moon was going to be a "terrifying" moment as the ISROhas not done it before, whereas Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) manoeuvre was successfully carried out during the Chandrayaan-1mission.
Explaining the landing manoeuvres, Sivan had said once the manoeuvre starts from about 30 km to land on the surface of the moon, it will take 15 minutes.
"This 15 minutes travel of lander is new to ISRO. It is for the first time we are going to another body where there is no atmosphere and using the propulsion system we will have to break the velocity and bring the vehicle safely to soft-land.
Timeline of Chandrayaan-2's orbit manuevers
To achieve this we will have to balance between the gravity and thrust. So we have to modulate the thrust of the engine," he had said.
Following the landing, the rover 'Pragyaan' will roll out from 'Vikram' between 5.30 am and 6.30 am. While, the 'Pragyaan' will carry out experiments on the lunar surface for a period of one lunar day, which is equal to 14 earth days, the main orbiter will continue its mission for a year.