Chandrayaan-2
INTRODUCTION
In the wake of the productive Chandrayaan-1 mission, Chandrayaan-2 was India's second lunar exploration project. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched it on July 22, 2019, with the intention of boosting India's space exploration capabilities and improving our knowledge of the Moon's geology and composition. The mission marked an important turning point in India's space programme and illustrated its expanding prowess in space science and technology.
Parts of mission
The spacecraft was made up of an orbiter, the Vikram lander, and the Pragyan rover. The orbiter, which was equipped with a variety of scientific tools, was made with the intention of orbiting the Moon and providing an in-depth map of its surface. The Pragyan rover would be released after a soft landing by the lander Vikram, which was intended to take place close to the lunar south pole.
When the lander carrying the rover diverted from its original course during the descent and communication with it was lost, the mission suffered a serious setback. Even yet, the Chandrayaan-2 mission was deemed a partial success because the orbiter kept operating and gathering useful data.
High-resolution images of the lunar surface were successfully taken by the orbiter, which was outfitted with instruments like the Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2), Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS), and the Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR).
Studying the presence of water molecules and other elements on the Moon was one of Chandrayaan-2's main goals. The equipment on board the orbiter made the important discovery of water ice in the south polar area, which has implications for future lunar research and potential resource use.
The mission also aimed to analyze the Moon's exosphere, its thin atmosphere, and the interaction of solar radiation with the lunar surface. The orbiter's payloads, including the Chandra's Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2), provided valuable data on these aspects, contributing to our understanding of the Moon's environment.
Chandrayaan-2 demonstrated India's technological prowess by attempting a soft landing on the lunar surface. Although the lander encountered challenges during the descent, the mission provided valuable lessons and insights for future attempts.
For India's achievements in space exploration, the mission gained considerable international acclaim and admiration. It demonstrated the nation's dedication to technical development and scientific research. Chandrayaan-2 was a critical step in making India a significant player in the international space community and in promoting cooperation with other space-faring countries.
Future lunar missions, including ISRO's plans for Chandrayaan-3, were made possible thanks to the success of the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The knowledge gained from this trip has been used to future endeavours to increase the likelihood of a safe landing and further scientific research.
The scientific community in India was also greatly impacted by Chandrayaan-2, which encouraged young people to pursue jobs in space science and technology. The mission helped to advance innovation and research in a number of related sectors, thus enhancing India's standing in the world of science.
The scientific goals of Chandrayaan-2 went beyond simply visiting the moon's surface. More thoroughly than earlier missions, the mission also planned to research the geography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, and lunar exosphere of the Moon. By acquiring this information, researchers hoped to learn more about the Moon's history and evolution.
TMC-2, the orbiter's high-resolution camera, took pictures of the moon's craters, valleys, and mountains. These photos contributed to the creation of accurate maps of the lunar surface and gave important details about probable landing locations for upcoming missions.
The CLASS instrument, which was created to examine the elemental makeup of the lunar surface, was among the orbiter's key payloads. CLASS helps identify and map different elements present on the lunar surface by detecting the X-rays the Moon emits, providing insights into its geological processes.
The polar regions of the Moon were examined using the DFSAR instrument that was mounted on the orbiter. Scientists were able to dig into the lunar surface to look for subsurface water-ice deposits and analyse the region's geological structure thanks to its operation in two frequency bands and high-resolution radar photographs.
Other scientific tools on the orbiter included the Dual Frequency Radio Science Experiment and the Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS), which helped detect and map minerals found on the lunar surface.
Although conducting in-situ experiments close to the lunar south pole was the lander and rover's main objective, contact with the lander was lost during the descent. The orbiter kept operating and produced important scientific data despite this setback.
Due to the orbiter's prolonged mission, it was able to photograph the Apollo 11 landing site on the Moon's surface, a significant milestone in space exploration. These high-resolution photos of the location allowed researchers to examine how the lunar surface has changed over the previous 50 years.
Chandrayaan-2 had broader ambitions of technology development and international cooperation in addition to its scientific objectives. The lander's powered descent and the rover's mobility systems were two of the many technologies that were tested and validated during the course of the mission. Future moon missions and perhaps deep space exploration will directly benefit from these technological breakthroughs.
Additionally, Chandrayaan-2 involved collaboration, with numerous other space agencies supplying payloads and research equipment. For instance, the lander was equipped with NASA's Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), which made it possible to estimate the distance between the Earth and the Moon precisely. The interchange of scientific knowledge and international cooperation were facilitated by this collaboration.
The mission's difficulties and failures brought attention to the difficulties of lunar landings and the requirement for ongoing innovation in space exploration. It helped scientists and engineers improve their methods and tactics for successful soft landings on the lunar surface by offering insightful lessons for upcoming missions.
The accomplishments and discoveries made by Chandrayaan-2 have set the stage for India's upcoming planetary and lunar research missions. The project has motivated a new generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators to push the frontiers of what is feasible in India and has rekindled interest in space science and technology there.
The Chandrayaan-3 project, which attempts to expand on the accomplishments and lessons discovered from Chandrayaan-2, is currently being worked on by ISRO. To further study the lunar surface, the mission will contain a second lander and rover with upgraded designs and greater capabilities.
Chandrayaan-2 continues to be a crucial turning point in India's astral exploration endeavours. It has demonstrated the nation's scientific aptitude, technical prowess, and dedication to expanding human knowledge. The mission has advanced our knowledge of the Moon while also encouraging the country and the scientific community at large to strive for the stars.
Following the success of Chandrayaan-1, which was essentially an orbiter mission, Chandrayaan-2 development got under way in earnest. Chandrayaan-2 was intended to be a more ambitious mission that would include a lander and a rover to more thoroughly examine the lunar surface.
The lander, which was given the name Vikram in honour of Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, the pioneer of India's space programme, weighed about 1,471 kilogrammes. It had sensors and devices to help with a gentle landing on the lunar surface. One lunar day, or around 14 days on Earth, was the duration during which the lander was designed to function.
Pragyan, the rover, was made to move around the lunar surface and weighed about 27 kilogrammes. It has the tools necessary to conduct on-site experiments and analyse the soil. The solar-powered rover was intended to run for at least 14 days on Earth.
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III) of ISRO was used to launch Chandrayaan-2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. Strong launch vehicles like the GSLV Mk III can lift large payloads into orbit.
To progressively approach the Moon, the spacecraft undertook a number of orbit-raising manoeuvres. On September 2, 2019, the lunar lander Vikram detached from the orbiter and started its descent. However, communication with the lander was lost in the final moments of the fall, and its precise location and status were unknown for some time.
Despite difficulties with the landing, the Chandrayaan-2 mission still accomplished a lot. The orbiter's operation and the spacecraft's successful entry into lunar orbit yielded important information about the Moon's composition, surface features, and environment.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission's objectives were to further knowledge of the Moon's geological history, reveal the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface, and explore potential resource locations. The orbiter's equipment proved the presence of water on the Moon when they found water ice there. This has important ramifications for future human space travel and potential resource utilisation.
Additionally, the mission attempted to learn more about the occurrence of "moonquakes" or lunar seismic activity. Scientists intended to learn more about the dynamics and structure of the Moon's interior by analysing its seismicity.
The scientific community throughout the world has access to the high-resolution photographs, mineralogical mapping, and compositional analyses produced by Chandrayaan-2. The mission's discoveries add to our understanding of the Moon and its importance to planetary science.
The overall success of the operation was not diminished by the mission's setback during the landing phase. It brought to light the difficulties and difficulties associated with soft landings on celestial bodies as well as the requirement for ongoing research and development in this field.
India's commitment to exploring the furthest reaches of space was made clear by the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which also helped to solidify India's position as the world's foremost space power. It demonstrated ISRO's capabilities and technological developments as well as the skills and commitment of the scientists, engineers, and mission support personnel.
Future lunar and extraterrestrial missions, such as ISRO's planned Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun and the Gaganyaan mission, which intends to launch Indian astronauts into space, were made possible by Chandrayaan-2.
Budget of Chandrayaan-2
The about 978 crore (around 141 million USD) budgeted amount was for the Chandrayaan-2 mission. In light of the mission's complexity and goals, its cost effectiveness was noteworthy. The lander for the project was given the name Vikram in honour of Vikram Sarabhai, who is frequently hailed as the pioneer of India's space programme. Pragyan, the name of the rover, means "wisdom" in Sanskrit. The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter's mission lasted for a full year instead of the one lunar day that was originally planned. Scientists were able to acquire more information and carry out additional experiments thanks to this prolonged mission.
The orbiter carried eight scientific payloads for studying the Moon's surface, atmosphere, and subsurface, including as imaging tools, spectrometers, and radar equipment. Three scientific payloads were transported by the lander and rover to conduct lunar surface research. These included equipment for measuring elemental abundance, seismic activity, and thermal conductivity.The Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2) on board the orbiter took pictures of the lunar surface with a resolution of roughly 5 metres, providing precise topographical data for upcoming exploration.
To examine the Moon's subsurface structure and look for water-ice deposits, the orbiter's Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) operated at two frequency bands, L- and S-band.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission sought to advance knowledge of the Moon and its history worldwide. It exchanged data and scientific findings with other countries' space organisations, notably NASA.
The space industry and economy of India benefited from Chandrayaan-2. It encouraged the development of technology and created employment possibilities by involving participation from many industries and research organisations.
Millions of people all over India closely followed the mission's development and its scientific discoveries, which gave the Indian population a sense of pride and enthusiasm.
Chandrayaan-2 functioned as a testbed and showcase for cutting-edge technology. It featured cutting-edge components like the motorised descent and the utilisation of a robotic rover for scientific research.
After the mission's attempt to set down the lander and rover on the lunar surface failed, India redoubled its efforts to improve its space capabilities by taking lessons from mistakes.
Following the mission's launch, the Indian government and ISRO got enormous support and motivation from the international community, highlighting the interest that people all around the world have in lunar exploration and space science.
Chandrayaan-2 added to our knowledge of the Moon's geological past by shedding light on its formation and development. Future missions will use the information gathered by this mission to choose landing zones and organise scientific research.
It was important that the mission focused on studying the area around the lunar south pole. This area offers distinctive geological characteristics and prospective water-ice supplies that could sustain habitation and space travel in the future.
Chandrayaan-2's accomplishments in orbit insertion and data gathering showed India's capacity to independently plan, carry out, and run challenging space missions.
The expedition rekindled interest in lunar exploration and space science among Indian scientists and students, resulting in additional funding for outreach and education initiatives.
Chandrayaan-2 has opened the door for ISRO and other space agencies to work together in the future on lunar exploration and other space projects.
The mission's inability to successfully land the lander and rover brought to light the inherent dangers and difficulties of space travel and emphasised the necessity for ongoing development, cutting-edge technology, and stringent testing.
The legacy of Chandrayaan-2 goes beyond its specific goals. For India's space programme, it has acted as a stepping stone, inspiring additional developments in space science, technology, and exploration.
The mission's successes and failures have taught important lessons for prospective missions, enhancing ISRO's capabilities and raising the likelihood that upcoming lunar and planetary missions will be successful.
Chandrayaan-2 was planned to touch down at an area of the lunar south pole that has not yet been examined, which is thought to have permanently shadowed craters that could contain water ice deposits. The mission's objective was to examine these deposits and determine whether lunar resources might someday be used.
The "Lander Position Detection Camera" (LPDC), a piece of equipment, was installed on the lander Vikram. Its purpose was to support the lander's autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance during descent.
Pragyan, the rover, had six wheels and weighed roughly 27 kilogrammes. It was intended to move along the lunar surface at a speed of roughly 1 centimetre per second while gathering information and conducting tests.
Pragyan carried two scientific tools: the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) and the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). These tools would have examined the lunar surface's elemental makeup and provided information about its geological past.
Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai, a distinguished Indian physicist and the man who established India's space programme, was honoured with the name Vikram for the lander of Chandrayaan-2. Pragyan, the name of the rover, is Sanskrit for "wisdom".
After the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, India would have become the fourth nation to successfully make a soft landing on the Moon had Vikram's mission been successful.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission was designed to last for one lunar day, which is equal to around 14 days on Earth. The lander and rover were intended to function during this time, carrying out research projects and collecting data.
The orbiter, which carried on operating even after the lander's failed attempt to land, was essential in transferring information and photographs between the lander and Earth. Additionally, it made its own impartial scientific observations on the Moon.
The Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS), one of the orbiter's payloads, was designed to investigate the existence of important elements on the lunar surface. The Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM), a different device, kept track of solar X-ray emissions and their interactions with the lunar surface.
The lunar surface was mapped and its mineral makeup was examined using the orbiter's Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS). It discovered hydroxyl and water molecule fingerprints, adding to the mounting evidence that the Moon has water ice.
In addition, the Dual Frequency Radio Science (DFRS) experiment was carried by Chandrayaan-2's orbiter. In order to comprehend the density and structure of the lunar atmosphere, this experiment examined the radio wave propagation through it.
The orbiter's High-Resolution Camera (OHRC), which has a resolution of up to 25 centimetres, took pictures of the Moon's surface with a resolution of up to 25 centimetres, giving detailed views of numerous geological features.
The orbiter's prolonged mission life allowed researchers to carry out experiments and continue data collection after the originally anticipated end date, greatly improving the project's scientific output.
Chandrayaan-2's lander and rover were designed to conduct research and explore the lunar surface for one lunar day. Their equipment was made especially to resist the hostile lunar environment.
For ISRO and the scientific community, the mission's failure to complete a successful soft landing on the lunar surface was a setback. It did, however, highlight the difficulties and complexities of space travel as well as the necessity for ongoing development and education.
The goals of Chandrayaan-2 were in line with global initiatives to study the Moon and deepen human understanding of our planetary neighbour. The mission's objective was to advance international lunar research and cooperation.
India's lunar exploration programme made tremendous strides thanks to the Chandrayaan-2 mission. It came after the Chandrayaan-1 mission's accomplishment, which orbited the Moon and made significant discoveries on its water content.
The scientific data and conclusions from Chandrayaan-2 have been made available to the whole scientific community, advancing our collective knowledge and comprehension of the Moon's geology, composition, and potential to support human activities in the future.
The mission's inability to successfully land the lander and rover served as a lesson for ISRO, emphasising the value of thorough testing, system redundancy, and ongoing development in subsequent missions.
Chandrayaan-2's mission helped India's space programme gain respect and recognition abroad and solidify its position as a major participant in the field of space technology and exploration.
Young scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts in India and around the world have been inspired and motivated by the Chandrayaan-2 project. It has sparked interest in the subject and prompted people to pursue jobs in the area.
ISRO has continued to plan and get ready for further moon missions after the Chandrayaan-2 mission. The knowledge gained from this expedition will be extremely important for eveyyone.
ISRO's forthcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission seeks to expand on Chandrayaan-2's successes by landing a rover on the lunar surface. On the basis of the knowledge obtained from the last mission, the mission is anticipated to include enhancements and adjustments.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission has affected India's technological prowess and research and development industries more broadly. It has promoted the development of homegrown innovations, technology, and production capacities in the space sector.
India's advances in space exploration and its potential for future ambitious projects have been highlighted by the Chandrayaan-2 mission, which has demonstrated the country's ability to carry out complicated missions in a reasonably short amount of time.
The project has also made a point about how crucial international cooperation and teamwork are to space exploration. Partnerships with international space agencies helped Chandrayaan-2 by facilitating the sharing of information and experience.
Chandrayaan-2's mission and scientific achievements have received extensive coverage and praise in the media, both in India and beyond. People all throughout the world are excited and proud of the mission, which has raised public interest in space research.
The mission's scientific data and findings have given us important new understanding of the Moon's geological past, its resources, and its potential as a launching pad for crewed expeditions to other heavenly bodies in the future.
The legacy of Chandrayaan-2 goes beyond its specific mission. It has set the path for more Moon exploration and beyond, inspiring new missions, technical developments, and scientific breakthroughs.
Overall, Chandrayaan-2 represents a significant advancement in India's space exploration programme, advancing knowledge of the Moon and encouraging the next generation to seek careers in science and technology.
In conclusion, Chandrayaan-2 was a significant mission for India, demonstrating the nation's accomplishments in scientific inquiry and space exploration. Despite the difficulties encountered during the landing, the mission gave us important new information about the geology, water, and exosphere of the Moon. It contributed to a deeper scientific understanding of our planetary neighbour by showcasing India's space technological prowess and setting the stage for next lunar expeditions.
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