Damn, I did stay up.
And the Indian rocket lifted off impressively, apparently successfully.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/stat...2496817152
From Earth orbit the Chandrayaan 2 will behave as that Israeli lander did, firing its engine each orbit to make each orbit more and more elliptical, until the apogee approaches the Moon's orbit and the Moon's gravitational sphere of influence where another burn inserts it into Lunar orbit. Requires some orbital mechanics to ensure that the vehicle reaches the top of its orbit right when the Moon is going by. Doing it this way is slower and more time consuming than the brute-force Apollo trip to the Moon, but doesn't require a giant rocket as capable as a Saturn 5. Estimated arrival at the Moon in September for the landing attempt.
And the Indian rocket lifted off impressively, apparently successfully.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/stat...2496817152
From Earth orbit the Chandrayaan 2 will behave as that Israeli lander did, firing its engine each orbit to make each orbit more and more elliptical, until the apogee approaches the Moon's orbit and the Moon's gravitational sphere of influence where another burn inserts it into Lunar orbit. Requires some orbital mechanics to ensure that the vehicle reaches the top of its orbit right when the Moon is going by. Doing it this way is slower and more time consuming than the brute-force Apollo trip to the Moon, but doesn't require a giant rocket as capable as a Saturn 5. Estimated arrival at the Moon in September for the landing attempt.