ISRO shares first pictures of Earth captured by Chandrayaan-2

Space agency ISRO on Sunday released the first set of pictures of the Earth captured by Chandrayaan 2. The pictures were captured by L 14 camera on board Chandrayaan II.

New Delhi: Space agency ISRO on Sunday released the first set of pictures of the Earth captured by Chandrayaan 2, the country's second Moon mission launched a fortnight ago.

The pictures were captured by L 14 camera onboard Chandrayaan II. The pictures show the Earth in different hues.

"Earth as viewed by #Chandrayaan2 LI4 Camera on August 3, 2019, 17:34 UT," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tweeted along with the pictures.

Recently, the organisation announced that it has successfully carried out the fourth earthbound orbit-raising manoeuvre for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft.

"Fourth earthbound orbit-raising manoeuvre for Chandryaan-2 spacecraft has been performed successfully today (August 2, 2019) at 1527 hrs (IST) as planned, using the onboard propulsion system for a firing duration of 646 seconds. The orbit achieved is 277 x 89472 km. All spacecraft parameters are normal," the space agency had said in a statement.

A Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III, carrying the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, had lifted off at 2.43 pm on July 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Chandrayaan-2 will explore a region of the moon where no mission has ever set foot. The spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover together referred to as "composite body".

The landing on the moon's south polar region is expected on September 6 this year.

The spacecraft will be the first Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface. This mission will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to carry out a soft landing on the moon.

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