ISRO to launch Chandrayaan-2, will be first ever to land near Moon’s South Pole

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its second lunar exploration mission Chandrayaan-2. Interestingly, Chandrayaan-2 will make a soft land near the moon’s south pole, making it the first spacecraft ever.

Former ISRO Chief, AS Kiran Kumar, who retired as ISRO Chairman last month, informed that for the touchdown of the second flight from India, the organisations have selected two locations, from which one will be chosen for the land.

 “We have identified two locations and will be choosing one. No other moon mission has landed in this area,” he said on Saturday.

Preparations for this soft land are ongoing at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion System Centre at Mahendra Giri, Tamil Nadu. The preparations involve prototype of the lander pretending a soft landing from a height of 70-80 meters.

Kumar also said that Chandrayaan-2’s flight hardware is in the process of getting ready, which means that the launch can be expected in the first quarter of 2018 or during the second half.

Also Read: Take a look at the first image captured from space by ISRO’s Cartosat-2 satellite

The Chandrayaan-2 is likely to take off on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II, which will comprise of an orbiter, lander, and six-wheeled rover which would move around the landing site and instruments attached to it would send data back, which will be useful in analysing the lunar soil.

After reaching the lunar orbit, the Lander which will be instilled with the rover will separate from the orbiter and the lander will make a soft land on the lunar surface at a specified site.

Earlier on January 12, ISRO launched its 100^th satellite along with 30 others in a single mission.