India's first moon lander, Vikram on Tuesday, 3 September, got nearer to the Moon with the Indian space agency successfully completing the first of the two de-orbital operations.
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the de-orbital operation began at 8:50 am as planned. Using the onboard propulsion system for 4 seconds the operation was carried out successfully.
The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in the existing orbit and both the Orbiter and Lander are healthy.
The next de-orbiting operation is scheduled on Wednesday, 4 September between 3:30 am and 4:30 am.
On Monday, 2 September, Vikram separated from its mother spacecraft Chandrayaan-2.
Vikram is scheduled to land on the south polar region of the moon on 7 September between 1:30 am to 2:30 am.
Meanwhile, the Orbiter continues to fly around the moon.
On 22 July, the Rs 978-crore Chandrayaan-2 was launched into space by India's heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III) in a text book style launch.
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