ISRO to launch Chandrayaan-2 mission to moon's South Pole
What's the story
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a lunar mission, called Chandrayaan-2, to the moon's South Pole in April, Minister of State for Department of Space Jitendra Singh has announced.
Under this, the space agency will for the first time attempt to land a rover on any celestial body.
Here is more about the country's first interplanetary mission.
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This is an extension of the Chandrayaan-1 mission
"It is under the Chandrayaan-1 mission (conducted in 2008) that the ISRO spotted water on the moon. Chandrayaan-2 is a further extension of the project and it is as good as landing a man on the moon," Jitendra Singh said.
Details
India's moon rover to cost Rs. 800 crore
The rover that will be launched towards the moon will cost about Rs. 800 crore.
According to ISRO's newly appointed chairman K Sivan, the window for the mission will be open between April and November this year.
This means that in case the mission is not launched in April, say "due to unsuitable weather," it can be carried out until November.
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The mission could help us understand origin of universe: ISRO
Calling the moon's South Pole a "very tricky area," Sivan said, "It has very old rocks. This could possibly help us understand the origin of universe. Most of the lunar missions in the past have explored the area around the equator of the moon."
Context
The moon rover will send back lunar data for analysis
Chandrayaan-2, India's second lunar mission, is an indigenous project that will carry an orbiter, a lander, and a rover to the moon.
After reaching the lunar orbit, the lander housing the rover will separate from the orbiter and soft-land on the lunar surface.
The six-wheeled rover will then move around the landing site in semi-autonomous mode, and consequently send back lunar data for analysis.