Chandrayaan 2 Mission

 

Chandrayaan 2 Mission

 

Chandrayaan 2 Mission

Introduction:

In September 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Chandrayaan-2, the country’s second lunar mission after Chandrayaan-1. This mission was a significant achievement for India’s space program, as it aimed to demonstrate the country’s technological prowess in space exploration.

Objectives:

The primary objective of Chandrayaan-2 was to land a rover on the moon’s south pole region and conduct scientific experiments to study the lunar surface and its geology. The mission aimed to collect data on the moon’s mineralogy, water content, and lunar seismic activity. The secondary objective was to explore the potential for the presence of water ice on the moon’s surface.

Components of Chandrayaan-2:

The orbiter, lander, and rover of Chandrayaan-2 were three separate spacecraft. The orbiter, which was created to circle the moon and perform remote sensing measurements of the lunar surface, had a one-year mission life. It was equipped with eight scientific payloads for exploring the moon’s atmosphere, surface, and exosphere.

The lander, which was given the name Vikram in honour of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s founder, was made to land gently on the moon’s surface. It was equipped with three scientific payloads for both surface- and subsurface-level research. The Pragyan rover, which could move up to 500 metres on the lunar surface, was housed inside the lander. Two scientific payloads were loaded onto it for in-situ surface analysis.

Launch and Mission Timeline:

Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22, 2019, aboard the GSLV Mark III rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The mission took 48 days to travel to the moon’s orbit, covering a distance of 3.84 lakh kilometers.

On September 2, 2019, the lander Vikram was separated from the orbiter and began its descent towards the lunar surface. However, during the final descent phase, communication with the lander was lost, and it crash-landed on the moon’s surface.

The orbiter, however, successfully entered the moon’s orbit and began its scientific mission. It continues to orbit the moon, sending back valuable data and images of the lunar surface.

Scientific Discoveries:

Chandrayaan-2’s scientific payloads have provided valuable data on the moon’s surface and its geology. The orbiter’s imaging payload has captured high-resolution images of the lunar surface, providing new insights into the moon’s topography, geology, and mineralogy.

The orbiter’s other scientific payloads, including the dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the X-ray spectrometer (CXS), and the solar X-ray monitor (XSM), have provided data on the moon’s subsurface structure, the distribution of elements, and the lunar exosphere’s dynamics.

Chandrayaan-2’s scientific discoveries have also shed light on the potential presence of water ice on the moon’s surface. The orbiter’s imaging payload has detected water molecules in the moon’s polar regions, indicating the possibility of water ice.

Conclusion:

Chandrayaan-2 was a significant achievement for India’s space program, showcasing the country’s technological prowess in space exploration. While the lander’s crash-landing was a setback, the orbiter’s scientific payloads have provided valuable data and insights into the moon’s surface and its geology. Chandrayaan-2’s legacy will continue to inspire future space missions and scientific discoveries.