• By James Kuanal
  • Mon, 02 Sep 2019 02:30 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: India's moon mission spacecraft achieved yet another feat on Monday as its lander portion Vikram separated from the spacecraft. The separation took place at 1.15 pm, said ISRO.

The Vikram Lander successfully separated from Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter at 1315 Hrs IST on Monday, said ISRO.

Vikram is currently located in an orbit of 119 km x 127 km. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in its existing orbit.

The health of the Orbiter and Lander is being monitored from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru with support from Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) antennas at Bylalu, near Bengaluru. All the systems of Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter and Lander are healthy, it added.

The next maneuver is scheduled between 8.45pm-9.45 pm on Tuesday.

Earlier on Sunday, Chandrayaan 2 had successfully completed its fifth and last orbit insertion maneuver using the onboard propulsion system.

Lander- Vikram of Chandrayaan 2 is expected to perform its soft-landing task on south polar region of Moon at around 1-2 am on September 7.

The spacecraft comprises of three parts: Orbiter, Lander and Rover.

Following the landing, the rover 'Pragyan' will roll out from lander 'Vikram' and carry out experiments on the lunar surface for a period of one lunar day, which is equal to 14 earth days. The mission life of the lander is also one lunar day, while the orbiter would continue its mission for a year.

If the mission is successful, India will become the fourth country after the Soviet Union, the US and China to achieve the feat.

The 3840 kg spacecraft was launched on July 22 in an unparalleled effort to reach south-pole of the Moon.