India's Chandrayaan-2 completes first de-orbit manoeuvre

The first de-orbiting manoeuvre for India's second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was performed successfully on Tuesday, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

This handout photo taken and released by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on July 22, 2019 shows ISRO's Chandrayaan-2 (Moon Chariot 2), being launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, an island off the coast of southern Andhra Pradesh state. [Photo: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) / AFP]

ISRO said in its statement, "The first de-orbiting manoeuvre for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was performed successfully today beginning at 0850 hrs IST as planned, using the onboard propulsion system. The duration of the manoeuvre was 4 seconds."

The orbit of Vikram Lander is 104 km x 128 km. Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in the existing orbit and both the Orbiter and Lander are healthy, IRSO added.

The next de-orbiting manoeuvre is scheduled on Sept. 4.

Launched on July 22, its lander named "Vikram" will attempt to make a soft-landing on the Lunar surface on Sept. 7.