India‘s 2nd Mission to Moon – Chandrayaan 2

Courtesy: www.chandrayaan-i.com

Unmanned mission to moon expected to lift off in March 2018, a decade after first moon mission Chandrayaan. ISRO sources said.

Chandrayaan 2 will be launched by GSLV Mk 2 that will blast off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

GSLV Mk 2 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launching Vehicle Mark 2) is largest launch vehicle weighing 3,250kg developed by India and has several successful missions.

GSLV Mk 2 having an orbiter, lander and rover. The orbiter launched to a moon’s orbit where the lander separate, make a soft landing and deploy the rover, sources said.

ISRO Officials said rover flight systems test include "soil mixing exercise" and mobility test to evaluate the rover's wheel-soil interaction to rectify crash land.

Chandrayaan 2 is an advanced version of Chandrayaan 1 that was a landmark mission for ISRO, with India becoming only the 4^th country to plant its flag on the moon after the US, erstwhile USSR and Japan.

Chandrayaan 1 mission costing $80 million is very low comparing to other country’s moon mission. Chandrayaan 2 is expected to cost $91 million, will be another example of ISRO’s high-end technology at very low cost.

ISRO Officials said rover flight systems test include "soil mixing exercise" and mobility test to evaluate the rover's wheel-soil interaction to rectify crash land.