Chandrayaan-2 mission likely to be launched next month, says ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is likely to launch Chandrayaan-2, the country's second mission to the Moon, next month, sources in the space agency said today. "We're all trying hard. Definitely, it should be possible to launch the mission in February," a senior ISRO official said. It's expected by the middle of next month but no date has been finalized, the sources said.
Chandrayaan-2 comprises an orbiter, a lander and a rover
"There is no impediment. It's on track," the official said. Chandrayaan-2, a totally indigenous venture, comprises an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. After a controlled descent, the lander would soft-land on the lunar surface at a specified site and deploy a rover, said ISRO.
The 3,290-kg Chandrayaan-2 will orbit the Moon, remote sense it
The six-wheeled rover will move around the landing site on the lunar surface in a semi-autonomous mode as decided by the ground commands. The instruments on the rover will observe the lunar surface and send back data, which will be useful for analysis of the lunar soil. The 3,290-kg Chandrayaan-2 will orbit the Moon and perform the objectives of remote sensing it.
This follows 2008 launch of Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar probe
The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice, the space agency said. Chandrayaan-1 was India's first lunar probe. It was launched by the ISRO in October 2008 and operated till August 2009.
