India’s second mission to the moon, Chandrayan 2 will be launched on July 15, at 2,51am, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Wednesday.
ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan said, “The day we are going to land on Moon is either September 6 or September 7, that day happens to be the beginning of a lunar day. For one full lunar day, the lander and rover will be functioning and will carry out scientific experiments.”
The total mass of Chandrayaan 2 system is 3.8 tons, has three modules — Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan), said ISRO and it costs Rs 603 crore.
The Orbiter and Lander modules will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle. The Rover is housed inside the Lander.
“After launch into earth bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach Moon orbit using Orbiter propulsion module and then, Lander will separate from the Orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to lunar South Pole,” the ISRO said.
Further, the Rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface. Instruments are also mounted on Lander and Orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments.
The ISRO had earlier kept the launch window for the mission from July 9 to July 16.
