About a month after the actual maneuver, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)ISRO) has revealed that the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter had to perform a Collision Avoidance Maneuver (CAM) to avoid the collision. NASA‘s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ,LRO), In October.
“A very close conjunction between Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and LRO was expected to close on October 20 lunar north Pole. In the one week period prior to assembling, analyzes by both ISRO and JPL/NASA have consistently shown that the radial separation between the spacecraft will be less than 100 m and the closest approach distance will be only 3 km at the above time. Closest approach,” reads an ISRO statement.
It added that both the agencies recognized that a CAM is necessary to mitigate the close approach risk to the situation, and it was mutually agreed that ISRO’s orbiter would pass through the same.
The maneuver was scheduled for October 18, 2021. It was designed to ensure a sufficiently large radial separation at the next closest conjunction between spacecraft. The CAM was nominally executed at 8.22 hrs (IST) After the orbit determination data along with post-maneuver tracking, it was re-confirmed that there will be no close association with LRO in the near future,” ISRO said.
Chandrayaan-2 and LRO Orbit Moon In a nearly polar orbit and therefore, the two spacecraft come close to each other at the lunar poles.
“… Risk assessment is critical when performing CAM for its operational satellites. However, this is the first time such a critically close conjunction was experienced for ISRO’s space exploration mission,” the space agency said. .
It added that the event highlights the importance of continuous assessment of near approach conditions for lunar and Mars missions, and the fact that effective mitigation of near approach risk involves close coordination and synergy among various space agencies.
“A very close conjunction between Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and LRO was expected to close on October 20 lunar north Pole. In the one week period prior to assembling, analyzes by both ISRO and JPL/NASA have consistently shown that the radial separation between the spacecraft will be less than 100 m and the closest approach distance will be only 3 km at the above time. Closest approach,” reads an ISRO statement.
It added that both the agencies recognized that a CAM is necessary to mitigate the close approach risk to the situation, and it was mutually agreed that ISRO’s orbiter would pass through the same.
The maneuver was scheduled for October 18, 2021. It was designed to ensure a sufficiently large radial separation at the next closest conjunction between spacecraft. The CAM was nominally executed at 8.22 hrs (IST) After the orbit determination data along with post-maneuver tracking, it was re-confirmed that there will be no close association with LRO in the near future,” ISRO said.
Chandrayaan-2 and LRO Orbit Moon In a nearly polar orbit and therefore, the two spacecraft come close to each other at the lunar poles.
“… Risk assessment is critical when performing CAM for its operational satellites. However, this is the first time such a critically close conjunction was experienced for ISRO’s space exploration mission,” the space agency said. .
It added that the event highlights the importance of continuous assessment of near approach conditions for lunar and Mars missions, and the fact that effective mitigation of near approach risk involves close coordination and synergy among various space agencies.
,