Ahead of launch, ISRO successfully conducts trial run of Chandrayaan

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch Chandrayaan-2 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on-board GSLV Mk-III on July 15, 2019. Days ahead of launch, ISRO has carried out the trail run of Chandrayaan-2 on Wednesday, reports Deccan Chronicle.

According to a report by Deccan Chronicle, the task was successfully completed as Indian space scientists carried out the first full dress rehearsal ahead of launch of Chandrayaan-2. During the test run, ISRO scientists simulated a blast-off of the rocket, an 18 minute flight before setting free Chandrayaan-2 on its journey of more than three lakh km towards the Moon, and functioning of the Deep Space Network (DSN) Station on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 will be deployed on the far side of the lunar surface. It is to be noted that the far side of the Moon is also known as the ‘South Pole – Aitken Basin.’ The place is still a mystery for astronauts and researchers. Therefore, the accomplishment of sending spacecraft to the basin is viewed as a historical one. Chandrayaan-2 will be propelled to an Earth parking 170 x 40,400 kilometres orbit.

Chandrayaan-2 has three elements including the Rover, the Lander and the Orbiter. As soon as the spacecraft will land on the moon, the lander will separate from the Orbiter and then perform a series of complex manoeuvres comprising of tough braking and fine braking. The lander, named Vikram, will land near the Moon’s South Pole on September the 6th, 2019.

Following the Lander, Rover will deploy and perform a few experiments on the lunar surface of a period of one lunar day, which equals 14 days on Earth. In the meantime, the orbiter will continue with its mission, which is scheduled to last a year. During the mission, Chandrayaan-2 will reveal how solar wind interacts with the lunar surface and help in determining the process behind the formation of lunar water.

Also Read: Online registrations to watch Chandrayaan 2 launch live from Sriharikota to begin soon

Chandrayaan-2 Mission: Objectives

To demonstrate the ability to soft-land on the surface of the Moon and to operate a rover on the surface.

To study the surface of the moon.

To study the density of the electrons in the Moon's ionosphere that is the uppermost part of the atmosphere that is ionised by radiation.

To identify or to find out the minerals and indicators of hydroxyl and water molecules.

The Chandrayaan-2 mission is completely an indigenous as all payloads and all parts are developed by India.

India will be the fourth nation after the US, Russia and China, if succeeds in a soft landing on the Moon. Earlier, Israel failed in its maiden attempt to soft land on the moon through a Beresheet spacecraft, which crashed after reaching very close to the lunar surface.

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