After successfully performing the fifth and final lunar bound orbit manoeuvre, the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft is gearing up for separation of the lander from the orbiter on Monday. Here is everything you need to know about it:
What is Chandrayaan-2 and what is its objective?
Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft—consisting an orbiter, lander and rover—began its journey towards the moon, leaving the earth's orbit in the dark hours on August 14. India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV MkIII-M1, successfully launched the 3,840 kg Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft into the earth's orbit on July 22. India's second lunar expedition would shed light on a completely unexplored section of the moon, its South Polar region.
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What has happened so far?
On August 20, the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft successfully entered the lunar orbit by performing the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) manoeuvre. Since then, the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft has completed five lunar bound orbit manoeuvres successfully. The final one was conducted at 06:20pm on Sunday. The next operation is the separation of lander 'Vikram' from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, scheduled between 12:45pm and 01:45pm on Monday
What will happen next?
There will be two de-orbit manoeuvres of lander 'Vikram' to prepare for its landing in the south polar region of the moon. Vikram, with rover 'Pragyan' housed inside, is expected to touch down on the lunar surface on September 7, between 01:80am and 02.30am. The spacecraft's health is being continuously monitored from the Mission Operations Complex at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network in Bengaluru with support from Indian Deep Space Network antennas at Bylalu, near Bengaluru.
What do we hope to achieve with Chandrayaan-2?
Following the landing, the rover 'Pragyan' will roll out from lander 'Vikram' between 05:30-06:30am on September 7 and carry out experiments on the lunar surface for a period of one lunar day, which is equal to 14 earth days. The mission life of the lander is also one lunar day, while the orbiter will continue its mission for a year. The orbiter carries eight scientific payloads for mapping the lunar surface and study the exosphere (outer atmosphere) of the moon while the lander carries three scientific payloads to conduct surface and subsurface science experiments. The rover carries two payloads to enhance the understanding of the lunar surface.
-Inputs from PTI
