This week's launch of India's second lunar mission comes eight days after Chandrayaan-2's original lift-off date, which was scrubbed due to a rocket malfunction. Consisting of a lunar Orbiter module and the Vikram lander, the spacecraft is currently in a temporary Earth orbit of between 169.7 km (105 mi) and 45,475 km (28,260 mi) in altitude.

According to ISRO, the spacecraft is scheduled to carry out a series of engine maneuvers that will place it into a translunar orbit and is expected to arrive at the Moon on September 7. The Orbiter will then make course corrections to place the craft into a circular orbit at an altitude of 100 km (62 mi) above the lunar surface.