India’s Space Programmes: Chandrayaan – 2

India’s space agency, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), launched its second Moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, in 2019 under the Chandrayaan program. It was a follow-up to Chandrayaan-1, with the added goal of achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface.

Key Events:

• The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 20 August 2019.
• Vikram Lander attempted a landing on 6 September 2019, but deviated from its intended path at an altitude of 2.1 km and lost communication.
• ISRO confirmed it was a hard landing caused by a software glitch.
• The Failure Analysis Committee investigated, but its report has not been made public.
• On 18 October 2021, the orbiter performed a collision avoidance manoeuvre to avoid a potential collision with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter over the Moon’s north pole.

Mission timeline and delays: Originally scheduled for March 2018, the launch faced multiple delays due to:

1. Further tests and configuration changes.
2. Mass increase from 3,250 kg to 3,850 kg, requiring a switch from GSLV Mk II to GSLV Mk III.
3. Issues with engine throttling and lander leg damage during testing in February 2019.
4. A launch attempt on 14 July 2019 was aborted due to a technical glitch. The successful launch happened on 22 July 2019.
5. The orbiter is designed to operate for 7 years and is still active as of the latest reports.
6. Mission Cost: Approx. ₹978 crore (~US$140 million)

Main Objectives:

• To demonstrate India's ability to perform a soft landing on the Moon.
• To operate a robotic rover on the lunar surface.

Scientific Goals of the Orbiter:

1. Study lunar topography, mineralogy, and elemental abundance.
2. Examine the lunar exosphere and detect hydroxyl and water ice.
3. Focus on the south polar region to study water ice distribution.
4. Measure the thickness of lunar regolith (surface soil).
5. Create 3D maps of the lunar surface using high-resolution imaging.