ISRO says Chandrayaan-2 has enough fuel to last for 7 years around moon

As India's second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 completed one year in orbit around moon on August 20, ISRO said that all instruments are currently performing well and re is equate onboard fuel to keep it operational for about seven more years. Chandrayaan-2 was inserted into lunar orbit on August 20, exactly one year ago.

Indian Research Organisation said in statement: "Though soft-landing attempt (of lander carrying rover) was t successful, orbiter, which was equipped with eight scientific instruments, was successfully placed in lunar orbit. orbiter completed more than 4,400 orbits around Moon and all instruments are currently performing well," .

" orbiter is being maintained in 100 +/- 25 km polar orbit with periodic orbit maintenance (OM) maneuvers. So far, 17 OMs are carried out since achieving 100 km lunar orbit on September 24, 2019. re is equate onboard fuel to remain operational for about seven years. anticipated long life of this orbiter can contribute much to current resurgence of interest among global scientific community for a sustained presence on Moon," ncy said.

RE | Chandrayaan 2: Indian techie who spotted lost Vikram lander says Pragyaan seems 'intact'

What is Chandrayaan 2?

Chandrayaan-2's rocket lifted off at scheduled time of 2:43 PM on July 22, 2019. aver distance between Earth and Moon is 3, 84, 000 km. Vikram lander was scheduled to land on Moon on 48th day of mission on September 7, but h a hard landing. On September 7, Vikram Lander which h separated from Chandrayaan 2's orbiter on September 2, while descending onto lunar surface lost contact with ISRO Mission Control Centre. If landing would have been successful, India would have been fourth country after US, Russia, and China to do so. Chandrayaan 2's lunar orbiter is currently revolving around moon taking high-resolution pictures.

RE | ISRO shares im of moon crater captured by Chandrayaan-2, names it after Vikram Sarabhai

Pragyaan Seems 'intact'

Indian techie and enthusiast Shanmuga Subramanian who spotted Vikram lander of Chandrayaan 2 on lunar surface, has said that rover Pragyan may be 'intact' on Moon's surface. In a series of tweets, he shared ims showing that Chandrayaan - 2's Pragyan has rolled out a few metres from skeleton Vikram lander whose paylos got disintegrated due to hard landing.

Moreover, he said that re is a distinct possibility that commands sent to lander were received and it was relayed it to rover, however, Vikram lander was t able to communicate it back to earth. He has tagged ISRO in his findings and shared ims of his findings, and has also given a detailed explanation for it.

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'Sarabhai Crater'

To hour Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, Far of Indian Program, one of craters in Moon captured by Chandrayaan-2 has been named after him. On completion of his birth centenary on August 12, Indian Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement that crater on Mare Serenitatis in rast qurant of Moon has been named 'Sarabhai Crater' to pay tribute to scientist. 

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