Chandrayaan-2 Set for a July Launch – ISRO

India’s ambitious second mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-2, is set to be launched between July 9-16.

In-Detail:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch its second mission to Moon.
• The Chandrayaan-2 mission will consist of 14 scientific payloads including a lunar lander.
• The spacecraft weighs 3,800 kg.
• It consists of an orbiter, that orbits the moon at 100km from the surface.
• The orbiter will collect scientific information such as the mineral composition of the moon, the lunar topography, elemental abundance, composition of the lunar exosphere, presence of hydroxyl and water ice.
• Vikram – is a five-legged lander that will descend onto the moon’s surface.
• Pragyan – is a robotic rover will probe the lunar terrain and conduct in situ experiments.
• As per ISRO, the orbiter consists of eight payloads, Lander – 4 and Rover – 2.
• The landing site chosen by ISRO is in the south pole of the moon which was hitherto unexplored by any spacefaring nation so far.
• The Chandrayaan-2 will be lifted on GSLV MkIII, ISRO’s heavy lifter.
• If India manages to land the rover on to the surface of the moon, it will become the fourth nation to do so. The other countries are – US, USSR, and China.

Chandrayaan-1

The previous mission Chandrayaan-1, launched in October 2008, was a successful mission. Presence of water ice on the surface of the Moon was determined by this mission.

Also Read:

• ISRO SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES MICROSAT-R
• ISRO SET TO START WORK ON GAGANYAAN
• GSLV CONTINUATION PROGRAMME

GSLV Mk III

• It is a three-stage rocket.
• The first stage is the S-200 solid rocket booster.
• The second stage is the L110. It is a liquid profusion system that carries liquid fuel.
• The third stage is C25 with CE-20 cryogenic engine.
• The launch vehicle can carry a payload of 4000kg to Geosynchronous Transit Orbit (GTO) and 8000kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• It will also be used to launch Gaganyaan – India’s first crewed spacecraft.

Source of Info: www.isro.gov.in/gslv-mk-iii-chandrayaan-2-mission