Chandrayaan-2 completes fifth Earth orbit

Mumbai: India's second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, successfully completed its fifth and final earth-bound orbit and is on its journey towards the moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed on Tuesday.

The mission was launched on July 22.

"Fifth Earth bound orbit raising maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft has been performed successfully today at 1504 hours as planned, using the onboard propulsion system for a firing duration of 1041 seconds. The orbit achieved is 276 x 142975 km," ISRO said.

All spacecraft parameters are normal, it said, adding "the next maneuver is Trans Lunar Insertion (TLI), which is scheduled on August 14 between 0300 - 0400 hours."

Two days ago Chandrayaan-2 had sent the first set of pictures of the earth.

The spacecraft's lander and the rover are expected to touch down near the "Lunar South Pole" in early September.