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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Indian Moon probe pictures Earth | Indian Moon probe pictures Earth |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| India's Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft has sent back its first images. | India's Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft has sent back its first images. |
| The probe was launched on 22 October to embark on a two-year mission to explore the Moon. | |
| Ground controllers in Bangalore instructed the probe to take pictures with its Terrain Mapping Camera as the spacecraft made a pass of the Earth. | Ground controllers in Bangalore instructed the probe to take pictures with its Terrain Mapping Camera as the spacecraft made a pass of the Earth. |
| Chandrayaan also fired its engines for three minutes to carry out an orbit raising manoeuvre which takes the probe closer to the lunar body. | Chandrayaan also fired its engines for three minutes to carry out an orbit raising manoeuvre which takes the probe closer to the lunar body. |
| That was the fourth manoeuvre of its type made by the spacecraft, extending its orbit to more than half the distance to the Moon. | That was the fourth manoeuvre of its type made by the spacecraft, extending its orbit to more than half the distance to the Moon. |
| Just one more like it is required to take Chandrayaan into the Moon's vicinity, at a distance of 384,000km from Earth. | Just one more like it is required to take Chandrayaan into the Moon's vicinity, at a distance of 384,000km from Earth. |
| Keeping up | Keeping up |
| The first images, taken at an altitude of 9,000km, show the northern coast of Australia while others, snapped at a height of 70,000km, show Australia's southern coast.The camera takes black and white images at a resolution of 5m | The first images, taken at an altitude of 9,000km, show the northern coast of Australia while others, snapped at a height of 70,000km, show Australia's southern coast.The camera takes black and white images at a resolution of 5m |
| The Terrain Mapping Camera is one of the eleven scientific instruments aboard Chandrayaan 1. The camera takes black and white pictures at a resolution of about 5m. | The Terrain Mapping Camera is one of the eleven scientific instruments aboard Chandrayaan 1. The camera takes black and white pictures at a resolution of about 5m. |
| Once Chandrayaan reaches the Moon, it will slip into orbit to compile a 3D atlas of the lunar surface and map the distribution of elements and minerals. | Once Chandrayaan reaches the Moon, it will slip into orbit to compile a 3D atlas of the lunar surface and map the distribution of elements and minerals. |
| The mission is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other spacefaring nations in Asia. | The mission is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other spacefaring nations in Asia. |
| The health of Chandrayaan 1 is being continuously monitored from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bangalore with support from Indian Deep Space Network antennas at Byalalu. | The health of Chandrayaan 1 is being continuously monitored from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bangalore with support from Indian Deep Space Network antennas at Byalalu. |
| The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) - the country's space agency - says that all systems have been performing well. | The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) - the country's space agency - says that all systems have been performing well. |