India is readying itself for Chandrayaan-2 Mission, where it will explore the lunar surface for a second time.
Here are 10 things you need to know about India’s Chandrayaan-2 Mission:
1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to deploy a rover on the lunar surface through Chandrayaan-2 mission.
2. The instruments on Rover will conduct in-situ analysis of elements such as Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Aluminium (Al), Silicon (Si), etc; in the vicinity of landing site, informed Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 18).
3. The minister, however, dismissed speculations about the aim of the mission being hunt for deposits of nuclear fuel Helium-3.
“Mining and extracting Helium-3 deposits is not planned,” said Singh.
4. Total approved cost of the Chandrayaan-2 Mission is Rs.603.00 crore.
5. India’s first lunar probe was Chandrayaan-1 mission launched in October 2008. Chandrayaan-2 is scheduled for October 2018 launch.
6. ISRO has planned to launch the mission to the moon by an indigenously developed Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk II). It will consist of a lunar orbiter, lander and rover.
7. The GSLV Mk II will have an approximate lift-off mass of 3,250 kg from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island.
8. The Indian space agency is planning to attempt a soft landing of a lander and rover on a high plain between Manzinus C and Simpelius N craters, at a latitude of about 70° south.
9. If successful, Chandrayaan-2 will be the first-ever mission to land a rover near the lunar south pole.
10. The orbiter will orbit the moon at an altitude of 100 km.