ISRO on Thursday released the first Moon image captured by Chandrayaan 2. The space agency shared the Moon picture at around 7 pm. Though, the first Moon image was taken on August 21 by Vikram Lander. Further, ISRO revealed that the photo was taken at the height of about 2,650 km from the Lunar surface.
Interestingly, the image not only shows the surface but also shows two important landmarks on the Moon - the Mare Orientale basin and Apollo craters, which have been identified in the picture.
India's most ambitious deep-space mission to date, Chandrayaan 2, recently completed the most complex and challenging manoeuvres in its journey to the Moon. The mission successfully entered the Moon's orbit and then received congratulatory messages not only from the scientific community but Prime Minister Modi himself. As Chandrayaan 2 inches closer to the Moon with ISRO finally inserting it in the lunar orbit with the help of liquid engine boosters, expect more such images in the coming days.
Earlier, Chandrayaan 2 released the first set of images of the Earth captured by Chandrayaan 2 Vikram Lander. The images were released on August 4.
With the insertion into the Moon's orbit using liquid engine boosters, Chandrayaan 2 has finally inched closer to its eventual goal. The information of the insertion was first shared with the world by the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation, K Sivan, who announced that the space agency had "crossed a major milestone" and is now on track for successful completion.
ISRO's Chandrayaan 2 mission is one of the most complex ones to have ever been attempted by ISRO. It comprises of three segments -- the Orbiter (weighing 2,379 kg, eight payloads), the lander 'Vikram' (1,471 kg, four payloads) and rover 'Pragyan' (27 kg, two payloads).
After completing the Trans Lunar Insertion, Chandrayaan 2 will now move on to Lunar bound manoeuvres. Post that, the lander Vikram will separate from Chandrayaan 2 and Vikram will touch down on the Moon's the South Pole.
According to ISRO, the lander Vikram will land on the Moon on September 7. If all goes to plan, this indigenously made and operated lunar mission will make India only the fourth nation in the world -- behind US, Russia and China -- to have reached the surface of the Moon. However, what will make it truly special is that it will also be the first space mission to land on the south polar region -- the dark side of the Moon.
A billion prayers for a giant lunar leap! As Chandrayaan 2 prepares for a historic moon landing later tonight, take a look at the 2 women scientists who headed this moon mission. #Chandrayaan2theMoon #Chandrayaan2Landing #Chandrayaan2Live