Chandrayaan-2

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Chandrayaan-2

Chandrayaan-2 lander and orbiter integrated stack.jpg

Chandrayaan-2 composite

Mission type Lunar orbiter, lander, rover

Operator Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

SATCAT no. 2019-042A

Website www.isro.gov.in/chandrayaan2-home-0

Mission duration Orbiter: ~ 7 years

Vikram lander ≤ 14 days[1][2]

Pragyan rover: ≤ 14 days[2]

Spacecraft properties

Manufacturer Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Launch mass Combined (wet): 3,850 kg (8,490 lb)[3][4][5]

Combined (dry): 1,308 kg (2,884 lb)[6]

Orbiter (wet): 2,379 kg (5,245 lb)[4][5]

Orbiter (dry): 682 kg (1,504 lb)[6]

Vikram lander (wet): 1,471 kg (3,243 lb)[4][5]

Vikram lander (dry): 626 kg (1,380 lb)[6]

Pragyan rover: 27 kg (60 lb)[4][5]

Power Orbiter: 1 kW[7]

Vikram lander: 650 W

Pragyan rover: 50 W

Start of mission

Launch date 22 July 2019, 14:43:12 IST (09:13:12 UTC)[8]

Rocket GSLV Mk III[9][10]

Launch site Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad

Contractor Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Moon orbiter

Orbital insertion 20 August 2019, 09:02 IST (03:32 UTC) [11][12]

Orbital parameters

Periapsis altitude 100 km (62 mi)[13]

Apoapsis altitude 100 km (62 mi)[13]

Inclination 90° (polar orbit)

Moon lander

Spacecraft component rover

Landing date 7 September 2019, 01:55 IST

(6 September 2019, 20:25 UTC) [14][12]

Chandrayaan programme

← Chandrayaan-1Chandrayaan-3 →

File:ISRO Chandrayaan 2 Working.ogg.480p.vp9.webm

Chandrayaan-2 mission explained

Chandrayaan-2 (candra-yāna, transl. "mooncraft";[15][16] About this soundpronunciation

(help·info)) is the second lunar exploration mission developed by the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO),[17][18] after Chandrayaan-1.[19][20] It consists of a lunar orbiter, the
Vikram lander, and the Pragyan lunar rover, all of which were developed in India.[21] The main
scientific objective is to map the location and abundance of lunar water via Pragyan, and
ongoing analysis from the orbiter circling at a lunar polar orbit of 100 × 100 km. [22][23][24]
The mission was launched to the Moon from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space
Centre on 22 July 2019 at 2.43 PM IST (09:13 UTC) by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
Mark III (GSLV Mk III).[9][10][25] The craft reached the Moon's orbit on 20 August 2019 and
began orbital positioning manoeuvres for the landing of the Vikram lander.[26] Vikram and the
rover were scheduled to land on the near side of the Moon, in the south polar region[27] at a
latitude of about 70° south at approximately 1:50 am on 7 September 2019 and conduct
scientific experiments for one lunar day, lasting two Earth weeks. However, the lander deviated
from its intended trajectory starting at 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) altitude,[28] and lost
communication when touchdown confirmation was expected.[29] Initial reports suggesting a
crash[30][31] have been confirmed by ISRO chairman K. Sivan, stating that the lander location
had been found, and "it must had been a hard landing". However, on 9 September 2019, reports
speculated that even though Vikram sustained a "hard landing", the lander appears intact and
communication attempts are still on going.[32] The orbiter, part of the mission with eight
scientific instruments, remains operational and will continue its seven-year mission to study the
Moon.