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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Запуск аппарата "Чандраян-2" http://www.variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1485951/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Neeraj Ladia
Explanation:
On July 22nd this GSLV
(Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle)
MkIII rocket vanished from sight
into a cloud bank an instant after this
dramatic
snapshot was taken.
Launched from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre it carried the
Chandrayaan 2
mission spacecraft into Earth orbit.
The spacecraft's orbiter, lander,
and rover are destined for the Moon, though.
In the coming weeks it will
perform a series of orbit raising maneuvers, eventually transferring to
lunar orbit in early September.
Carrying the solar-powered rover, the lander is scheduled
to separate and attempt its autonomous soft landing
at high latitudes near the lunar south pole.
It should
arrive on the lunar nearside near local sunrise and
the start of a two Earth-week long
lunar
day on September 7.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.