Sunday, August 4, 2019
A legacy of Chandrayaan 1
15th August, 2003:
Chandrayaan programme is announced by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
22nd October, 2008:
Chandrayaan 1 takes off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota
8th November, 2008:
Chandrayaan 1 enters a Lunar Transfer Trajectory
14th November, 2008:
The Moon Impact Probe ejects from Chandrayaan 1 and crashes near the lunar South Pole — confirms presence of water molecules on Moon's surface
28th August, 2009:
End of Chandrayaan 1 programme
What makes Chandrayaan 2 special?
1st Indian mission to explore the lunar terrain with home-grown technology
What makes Chandrayaan 2 special?
1st Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface with home-grown technology
What makes Chandrayaan 2 special?
1st space mission to conduct a soft landing on the Moon's south polar region
scientific objectives of Chandrayaan 2
What are the scientific objectives of Chandrayaan 2? Why explore the Lunar South Pole?
Moon provides the best linkage to
Earth’s early history. It offers an undisturbed historical record of the
inner Solar system environment. Though there are a few mature models,
the origin of Moon still needs further explanations. Extensive mapping
of lunar surface to study variations in lunar surface composition is
essential to trace back the origin and evolution of the Moon. Evidence
for water molecules discovered by Chandrayaan-1, requires further
studies on the extent of water molecule distribution on the surface,
below the surface and in the tenuous lunar exosphere to address the
origin of water on Moon.
The lunar South Pole is especially
interesting because of the lunar surface area here that remains in
shadow is much larger than that at the North Pole. There is a
possibility of the presence of water in permanently shadowed areas
around it. In addition, South Pole region has craters that are cold
traps and contain a fossil record of the early Solar System.
Chandrayaan-2 will attempt to soft land
the lander -Vikram and rover- Pragyan in a high plain between two
craters, Manzinus C and Simpelius N, at a latitude of about 70° south.
CHANDRAYAAN 2
Chandrayaan 2 is an Indian lunar mission that will boldly go where no
country has ever gone before — the Moon's south polar region. Through
this effort, the aim is to improve our understanding of the Moon —
discoveries that will benefit India and humanity as a whole. These
insights and experiences aim at a paradigm shift in how lunar
expeditions are approached for years to come — propelling further
voyages into the farthest frontiers.
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