India successfully launches Chandrayaan-2

World Monday 22/July/2019 13:39 PM
By: Times News Service
India successfully launches Chandrayaan-2

Mumbai: India's lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 successfully took off from Sriharikota on Monday, the country's space agency confirmed.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also stated that the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MK-III successfully separated from the spacecraft in orbit.

As part of the mission, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will attempt to land on the South Pole of the Moon. The probe will aim to land the lander Vikram and rover Pragyan in a high plain between two craters, Manzinus C and Simpelius N, at a latitude of about 70° south.

Chandrayaan-2's initial launch was scheduled on July 15 and was called off due to a technical snag noticed around one hour before launch.

According to ISRO, on entering the Moon's sphere of influence, onboard thrusters will slow down the spacecraft for lunar capture. On the day of landing, the lander will separate from orbiter. The lander Vikram, as part of the mission, is expected to land near the South Pole of the moon on September 7 2019.

The rover is expected to subsequently carry out experiments on the surface of the Moon for one lunar day, which is equal to 14 days on Earth. The orbiter will continue its mission for the duration of one year.

The lander Vikram was named after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, regarded as the father of the India's space programme, and weighs 1,471 kg.