Chandrayaan-2

Chandrayaan-2 (Sanskrit: चंद्रयान-२, lit: Moon-vehicle^[2][3] ), is a joint lunar exploration mission proposed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA) and has a projected cost of 425 crore (US$80 million).^[4] The mission, proposed to be launched in 2014 by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launch vehicle,^[1] includes a lunar orbiter and a lunar rover made in India as well as one lander built by Russia. According to ISRO, this mission will use and test various new technologies and conduct 'new' experiments.^[5][6] The wheeled rover will move on the lunar surface and will pick up soil or rock samples for on-site chemical analysis. The data will be sent to Earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.^[7] The team headed by Mylswamy Annadurai that was behind the success of the Chandrayaan-1 mission, is working on Chandrayaan-2.

History

The Indian Government approved the mission in a meeting of the Union Cabinet held on 18 September 2008 chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.^[8]

On November 12, 2007, representatives of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) and ISRO signed an agreement for the two agencies to work together on the Chandrayaan-2 project.^[9] ISRO will have the prime responsibility for the orbiter and rover, while Roskosmos will be responsible for the lander. The design of the space craft was completed in August 2009, with scientists of both countries conducting a joint review.^[10][11]

Design

Space craft

The mission is planned to fly on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-II (GSLV) with an approximate lift-off weight of 2,650 kg from Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island.^[12]

Orbiter

ISRO will design the orbiter, which will orbit the Moon at an altitude of 200km.^[13] It is decided that the mission would carry five payloads on the orbiter. Three of the payloads are new, while two others are improved versions of those flown on Chandrayaan-1 orbiter. The approximate launch mass will be 1,400 kg.^{[12] [14]}

Lander

Unlike Chandrayaan-1's lunar probe, which impacted the Moon's surface, the lander will make a soft landing.^[12] The Russian Federal Space Agency will provide the lander. The approximate weight of the lander and rover is 1,250 kg. The Russian space agency Roscosmos plans to test the lander in 2011.^[12][15][14]

Rover

The rover will weigh 30-100 kg and will operate on solar power. The rover will move on wheels on the lunar surface, pick up samples of soil or rocks, perform chemical analysis and send the data to the orbiter above, which will relay it to the Earth station.^[12][14]

Payload

ISRO has announced that an expert committee has decided on five payloads for the orbiter, and two for the rover.^[16][14] While it was initially reported that NASA and ESA would participate in the mission by providing some scientific instruments for the orbiter,^[17] ISRO has later clarified that due to weight restrictions it will not be carrying foreign payloads on this mission.^[13]

Orbiter payload

• Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) from ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore and Solar X-ray monitor (XSM) from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for mapping major elements present on the lunar surface.^[14]

• L and S band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad for probing the first few tens of metres of the lunar surface for the presence of different constituents, including water ice. SAR is expected to provide further evidence confirming the presence of water ice below the shadowed regions of the Moon.^[14]

• Imaging IR Spectrometer (IIRS) from SAC, Ahmedabad for mapping of lunar surface over a wide wavelength range for the study of minerals, water molecules and hydroxyl present.^[14]

• Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ChACE-2) from Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), Thiruvananthapuram to carry out a detailed study of the lunar exosphere.^[14]

• Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2) from SAC, Ahmedabad for preparing a three-dimensional map essential for studying the lunar mineralogy and geology.^[14]

Rover payload

• Laser induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) from Laboratory for Electro Optic Systems ( LEOS), Bangalore.^[14]

• Alpha Particle Induced X-ray Spectroscope (APIXS) from PRL, Ahmedabad.

Current status

As of 30 August 2010, ISRO has finalized payloads for Chandrayaan-2 mission.^[14]

See also

• Chandrayaan-1
• List of current and future lunar missions

References

External links

• Chandrayaan-2 Mission Status
• Chandrayaan 2 updates