ISRO to launch India’s second lunar mission - Chandrayaan 2 - in July

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will soon launch Chandrayaan-2, the country’s second lunar mission. The scheduled launch date is between July 9 and July 16, and the orbiter is expected to land on Moon on September 6.

The announcement was made by ISRO over a tweet that read: “We are ready for one of the most exciting missions, #Chandrayaan2. Launch window between July 9-16 & likely Moon-landing on Sept 6, 2019. #GSLVMKIII will carry 3 modules of this #lunarmission - Orbiter, Lander (Vikram), Rover (Pragyan).”

#ISROMissions We are ready for one of the most exciting missions, #Chandrayaan2. Launch window between July 9-16 & likely Moon-landing on Sept 6, 2019. #GSLVMKIII will carry 3 modules of this #lunarmission - Orbiter, Lander (Vikram), Rover (Pragyan).

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More updates soon. pic.twitter.com/jzx9CMwUhR

— ISRO (@isro) May 1, 2019

While the rover is housed inside the Lander, the two will be interfaced mechanically as an integrated module inside the launch vehicle.

The mission was being worked upon for several years and had also faced several problems that delayed its launch. In April, the Lander fractured its legs while on a test mission, which postponed the mission further.

The function of this rover will be to carry out scientific experiments on the surface of the Moon. In fact, both the Lander and Orbiter have been loaded with instruments that will aid in carrying out these experiments.

A total of 12 scientific payloads are being employed for the mission, of which 11 are Indian and only one is American. These will study the surface of the moon, monitor quakes, and send back photos to Earth.

Once Chandrayaan-2 lands on the lunar soil, India will become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the US, Russia, and China.