Chandrayaan 2 to Carry 7 Payloads: ISRO

Almost two years after India's maiden moon mission, the Chandrayaan, it is time to turn our attention to the Chandrayaan 2. While we still have three years to go before the launch, a mission as complex as this requires meticulous planning - which is precisely what is happening now.

While many mission related objectives are still under wraps, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to let the world know that the Chandrayaan 2 will carry as many as seven payloads from various countries - including a Russian lunar-lander. The mission would also include a wheeled rover that would be used to scourge the lunar surface for soil and rock specimen. The other payloads include scientific instruments and mappers like the ones included on the Chandrayaan 1.

Here are the details of the same:

• Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) from ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore and Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for mapping the major elements present on the lunar surface.
• L and S band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad for probing the first few tens of meters of the lunar surface for the presence of different constituents including water ice. SAR is expected to provide further evidence confirming the presence of water ice below the shadowed regions of the moon.
• Imaging IR Spectrometer (IIRS) from SAC, Ahmedabad for the mapping of lunar surface over a wide wavelength range for the study of minerals, water molecules and hydroxyl present.
• Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ChACE2) from Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), Thiruvananthapuram to carry out a detailed study of the lunar exosphere.
• Terrain Mapping Camera2 (TMC2) from SAC, Ahmedabad for preparing a three-dimensional map essential for studying the lunar mineralogy and geology.

Unlike the Chandrayaan 1, which was launched using a PSLV rocket, the Chandrayaan 2 would avail the services of the larger GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) launch vehicle. However, with the previous launches of the GSLV being unsuccessful, it is likely that the Chandrayaan mission could be delayed. It is pertinent to note that the GSLV's maiden flight using India's indigenously built Kaveri Cryogenic engine was a failure back in April 2010.