Indias Moon Mission to create History TONIGHT
According to sources Chandrayaan-2's landing module 'Vikram' will
begin its final descent to pull off a historic soft landing on the lunar
surdata-face in the early hours of Saturday, as the Indian Space Research Organization
awaits with bated breath for the "terrifying moment". Meanwhile a
successful landing will make
According to officials 'Vikram' with rover 'Pragyaan' housed inside is scheduled for a powered-descent between 1 am and 2 am on September 7, 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 surdata-face at its nearest point from where it will begin its final descent. Reportedly 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 ISRO has not done it before, where as Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) manoeuvre was successfully carried out during the Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Moreover when explaining the landing manoeuvres, Sivan had said once the manoeuvre starts from about 30 km to land on the surdata-face 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.