India’s second lunar mission pegged to launch in July

• After numerous cancellations India’s second mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-2, is scheduled for July, this year
  
• If the satellite is successfully launched as scheduled, Chandrayaan-2 will reach the Moon by September 6.
  
• The Chandrayaan-2 mission consists of three modules — the Orbiter, the Lander and the Rover.
  

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is pegging the launch of its second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, between July 9 and July 19 after having cancelled the mission four times in the past.

Should the satellite successfully take off within that window, it will land on the Moon around September 6 — roughly two months after its launch from Earth.


After taking off from Earth, on board the GSLV Mk 2I launcher, a Lander — named Vikram — on board Chandrayaan-2 will make a soft landing on the Moon’s surface.


Vikram was actually one of the reasons behind the latest delay of the India’s second lunar mission. Its legs underwent exertion during a during a ‘Lander Drop Test’ making the team consider strengthening them to compensate for the addition 600kg put on to stabilize the satellite.

When the Chandrayaan-2 was last delayed after it missed the planned January-February window, K. Sivan — ISRO Chairman — said that the launch would take place April-end orJune, at the latest.

Come May, the latest update is that Chandrayaan-2 will finally take to the Moon in July provided there aren’t anymore ‘technical glitches’ or ‘missed windows’.

See also:
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