Chandrayaan 2, writing a new history

The successful achievements of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in space technology have raised the pride of nation. World has witnessed the difficult journey of ISRO and its path breaking victories in form of various space launches, technological development and their applications in resolving real life problems. This triumphant organization has not only explored the space technology for constructive purposes but also increased the soft power of country. The most recent launch of a lunar mission, Chandrayaan 2, has placed the country in one of the few countries which launched rovar on moon.

ISRO launched Chandrayaan 2 recently on 22 July 2019 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The original date of launch was 14 July which was postponed to 22 July due to technical issues. It is expected to land on moon by 7 September, 2019.

Objective

The purpose of launching Chandrayaan 2 is to complete the mission of Chandrayaan 1 which includes mapping of lunar surface, knowing about nature and abundance of minerals and elements on moon, moonquakes, signatures of hydroxyl and water ice.

Features

Chandrayaan 2 weighs 3850kg. It has following three components:

Orbiter

It weighs 2379kg and carries 8 payloads including high resolution camera. Orbiter revolves around the target celestial body which is moon in this case. It orbits at altitude of 100km from moon. Its functions are to receive data from rover and lander & transmit it to ISRO and to send commands from ISRO to Lander & Rover. In this way, it will act as a connecting link between two.

Lander

It is named as Vikram Lander after the name of Vikram Sarabhai, founder of ISRO and father of Indian space programme. It carries 4 payloads.

Rover

It is named as “Pragyan” meaning wisdom. It weighs 27kg and carries 2 payloads. Its expected life is one lunar day which is equal to 14 earth days.

Mechanism of Launch

The entire system was launched by GSLV-MK III, the launching vehicle. Chandrayaan 2 will travel in space for 48 days. Once it will reach to the set orbit of moon, the orbiter will start orbiting the moon in that orbit. It will take high resolution images on landing site on moon. Then lander will be placed on surface and will release out the rover. The rover will explore the surface of moon and will send data to the 14 payloads which will further send it to recipient point on earth.

Predecessor

The predecessor Chandrayaan 1 was launched on 22 October, 2008. It was only an orbiter. It found signs of ice on moon in solid form. Before it could send more details about this possibility of existence of water on moon, its fuel got exhausted and it clashed on moon in August 2009.

Launch Vehicle

The launch vehicle used for this mission is GSLV MK-III which is geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle. It has capacity to carry approximately 5,000kg load to low earth orbit (LEO) and 10,000kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Thus, due to its huge carrying capacity it is known as “Fat boy” or “Bahubali” of ISRO. It is three stage heavy lift launch vehicle which is developed by ISRO itself and it comprises two solid straps, one core liquid booster and one cryogenic upper stage. The cryogenic technology and capacity to carry heavy weight are its specific features. This launch vehicle has the highest capacity of carrying weight among all the launch vehicles developed by ISRO.

This mission is totally indigenous. Earlier an agreement was signed with Roscosmos, Russian space agency, to jointly work on Chandrayaan 2. Roscosmos had to supply the lander in this joint mission while ISRO has the responsibility of providing orbiter and rover. Later Russia withdrew and this project turned in to an indigenous mission which ISRO conducted successfully.

By this launch, India has become fourth country after Soviet union, United States of America and China to send a rover on moon. But it has become first country in launching a rover on south pole of moon writing a new chapter in Indian space history.

See Other Posts: Artificial Intelligence, Post Work Society