Everything about Chandrayaan 2 in one blog!!

 Everything about Chandrayaan 2 in one blog!!

In this blog:

• Introduction to Chandrayaan 2
• Objectives of the mission
• The launch of Chandrayaan 2
• The components of Chandrayaan 2 (lunar orbiter, lander, and rover)
• The scientific goals of the mission
• The challenges faced during the mission
• The significance of the mission

Introduction to Chandrayaan 2

Chandrayaan 2 is India's second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan 1. It was launched on 22 July 2019 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The mission consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, which aim to study the lunar surface, especially the south polar region. Chandrayaan 2 is the first mission to attempt a soft landing near the moon's south pole, where water ice may exist. The mission also aims to enhance India's scientific and technological capabilities in space exploration.

Objectives of the mission

The Chandrayaan 2 mission was India's second lunar exploration project, launched in July 2019. The main objectives of the mission were to study the lunar surface, map its mineralogy and measure its seismic activity. The mission also aimed to land a rover on the south pole of the moon, which had not been explored before. The mission was successful in reaching the lunar orbit, but the lander and rover failed to make a soft landing and lost contact with the ground station.

The launch of Chandrayaan 2

India's second lunar mission, Chandrayaan 2, was successfully launched on July 22, 2019. The mission aimed to explore the south polar region of the moon and study its geology, mineralogy and water-ice distribution. Chandrayaan 2 consisted of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, which were designed to operate for one year and one lunar day respectively. The mission achieved a major milestone when it entered the lunar orbit on August 20, 2019. However, the lander and rover failed to soft-land on the moon on September 7, 2019, due to a technical glitch. Despite this setback, the orbiter continued to perform its scientific objectives and sent back valuable data and images of the lunar surface. Chandrayaan 2 was a remarkable achievement for India's space program and a testament to its technological prowess and scientific ambition.

The components of Chandrayaan 2 (lunar orbiter, lander, and rover)

The lunar orbiter is designed to orbit around the Moon at an altitude of 100 km and carry out scientific experiments such as mapping the lunar terrain, measuring the mineral composition, and detecting water ice. The orbiter has a mass of 2,379 kg and carries eight payloads.

The lander, named Vikram, is intended to soft-land on the lunar south pole region, and deploy the rover. The lander has a mass of 1,471 kg and carries four payloads. The lander also has a camera, a laser retroreflector, and a seismometer.

The rover, named Pragyan, is a six-wheeled robotic vehicle that can travel up to 500 m on the lunar surface. The rover has a mass of 27 kg and carries two payloads. The rover can communicate with the lander and the orbiter and perform experiments such as analyzing the soil samples and measuring the thermal properties.

The scientific goals of the mission

The mission aimed to achieve several scientific objectives, such as:

• To study the topography, mineralogy, and elemental composition of the lunar surface, especially near the south pole region.
• To map the distribution and abundance of water and other volatiles on the moon, both on the surface and in the subsurface.
• To measure the lunar thermal properties and seismic activity, and to test the possibility of future lunar habitation.
• To enhance India's technological capabilities and scientific knowledge in the field of lunar exploration.

Chandrayaan 2 consisted of three components: an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. The orbiter was designed to orbit the moon for at least one year, carrying eight scientific instruments. The lander, named Vikram, was supposed to soft-land near the south pole and deploy the rover, named Pragyan. The rover was equipped with two instruments to perform in-situ analysis of the lunar soil.

Unfortunately, Vikram lost contact with the orbiter during its final descent and crashed on the lunar surface. The orbiter, however, continued to function normally and relayed valuable data back to Earth. Chandrayaan 2 was still considered a partial success, as it demonstrated India's ability to launch and operate a complex lunar mission. It also provided new insights into the moon's geology and environment, which could help future missions to explore and utilize the lunar resources.

The challenges faced during the mission

One of the challenges was the complexity of the mission design. Chandrayaan 2 consisted of three components: an orbiter, a lander and a rover. The orbiter had to carry the lander and the rover to the lunar orbit, then release them for a soft landing on the surface. The lander and the rover had to communicate with each other and with the orbiter, as well as with the ground station on Earth. The mission required precise navigation, coordination and timing among all these elements.

Another challenge was the harsh environment of the lunar south pole. The region is covered with craters and boulders, making it difficult to find a suitable landing site. The region also experiences extreme temperature variations, from -200°C to 100°C, which can affect the performance of the instruments and batteries. Moreover, the region has long periods of darkness, lasting up to 14 days, which can limit the solar power generation and communication.

The most critical challenge was the landing itself. The lander had to perform a series of maneuvers to reduce its speed and altitude, while avoiding obstacles and adjusting its trajectory. The final descent was autonomous, relying on onboard sensors and thrusters. The lander had only 15 minutes to complete this process, which was described as "15 minutes of terror" by ISRO scientists.

Unfortunately, the lander lost contact with the orbiter and the ground station during the final descent, when it was about 2 km above the surface. The exact cause of this anomaly is still under investigation, but it is likely that the lander deviated from its planned path and crashed on the surface.

Despite this setback, Chandrayaan 2 was not a complete failure. The orbiter is still functioning and orbiting around the Moon, collecting valuable data and images. The mission has achieved many scientific and technological objectives, such as mapping the lunar surface, studying its mineralogy and exosphere, testing new technologies and enhancing India's space capabilities.

The significance of the mission

What is the significance of mission Chandrayaan 2?

India's second lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan 2, is a landmark achievement for the country and the world. The mission aims to study the lunar surface, especially the south polar region, and search for signs of water and minerals. Chandrayaan 2 is also the first mission to attempt a soft landing on the moon's south pole, which is a challenging and unexplored terrain.

Chandrayaan 2 has several scientific objectives that will enhance our understanding of the moon and its evolution. Some of these objectives are:

• To map the topography and mineralogy of the lunar surface using high-resolution cameras and spectrometers.
• To measure the lunar subsurface temperature and thermal conductivity using a thermal probe.
• To study the lunar exosphere and its interaction with solar wind using a mass spectrometer and a plasma analyzer.
• To perform in-situ analysis of lunar soil using a rover equipped with cameras, spectrometers, and an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer.

Chandrayaan 2 is not only a scientific mission, but also a demonstration of India's technological prowess and ambition. The mission showcases India's indigenous capabilities in designing, developing, launching, and operating a complex spacecraft. Chandrayaan 2 is also a testament to India's commitment to international cooperation and peaceful exploration of outer space.

for more interesting blogs  click here