New Delhi, August 6: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday successfully performed the fifth earth-bound orbit raising maneuver for Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft. The series of orbit raising maneuvers are scheduled to direct the ambitious lunar mission towards its specified target. The spacecraft's hover is expected to make a soft landing on the moon's surface on September 6-7.

"Fifth earth bound orbit raising maneuver for Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft has been performed successfully today (August 6, 2019) at 1504 hrs (IST) as planned, using the onboard propulsion system for a firing duration of 1041 seconds. The orbit achieved is 276 x 142975 km," the ISRO said in its statement. How Will Chandrayaan-2 Identify Presence of Water Below Surface of Moon? ISRO Explains With This Video

"All spacecraft parameters are normal. The next maneuver is Trans Lunar Insertion (TLI), which is scheduled on August 14, 2019, between 0300 – 0400 hrs (IST)," the space research body further added.

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Chandrayaan 2 took off on July 22 as the entire nation, including the political spectrum, watched keenly on the ambitious mission's launch.

The mission, if successful, will make India the fourth nation after the United States, Russia and China to make a soft landing on the moon's surface.

Chandrayaan-2 is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission which had 11 payloads -- five from India, three from Europe, two from the US and one from Bulgaria. The first mission had the credit for discovery of water on the lunar surface.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2019 04:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).