The Indian Space Research Organisation is known for scripting history and making the country proud and now it is all set to create one more record. Yes, now a massive responsibility has landed on to the shoulders of two women who will be spearheading the ISRO’s Chandarayaan-2 mission.
ISRO chairman, K Sivan confirmed that the deep space mission will be led by two women as project and mission directors.
“For Chandrayaan-2 mission, two women — Ritu Kridhal and M Vanitha — are leading as project and mission directors respectively,” said the ISRO Chairman.
The chairman, though, didn’t give the exact number of women scientists significantly contributing in the mission, he disclosed the percentage of women working to make the mission a massive success.
“We have about 30 per cent of women working in our organisation.” “The lander and the rover will have the tricolour painted on them. The Hindu Business Line reported
“The Ashoka Chakra will be imprinted on the rover’s wheels on one side and ISRO’s logo on the other.” Chairman S Sivan added.
“On the whole, Chandrayaan-2 mission depicts the true spirit of indigenisation; about 620 companies, universities and laboratories will be playing a vital role in the mission,” he added.
Dr K Sivan also explained about the objectives of the mission.
“It engages with the public. Chandrayaan-2 will inspire the whole nation and motivate the youth to undertake real-life applications of science and technology — to be second to none in solving the problems of man and society.”
“The mission will also expand the country’s footprint in space. Moon is the perfect test-bed for proving technologies required for future space exploration, as well as in-situ resource utilisation,” said Chairman K Sivan.
The space agency on Wednesday confirmed that India’s second moon mission ‘Chandrayaan 2’ will be launched on July 15 at 2.51 am.
ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan said that Chandrayaan-2 will carry as many as 13 scientific satellites with it and weighs about 3.8 tonnes.
He also added that Chandrayaan-2 will land on the moon in early September.
“The day we are going to land is either September 6 or September 7, that day happens to be the beginning of a lunar day. For one full lunar day, the lander and rover will be functioning and carry out scientific experiments,” he added.
Chandrayaan-2 will start exploring a region of moon, where no mission has ever set foot so far.
The ISRO chief added that the landing site which is about 70 degrees south latitude, is the southernmost for any mission so far. No other country has tried this before.
“The cost of Chandrayaan II Mission, mainly the satellite portion, including the support from foreign agencies as well as for navigation purpose, is Rs. 603 crore,” he said.
Dr K Sivan said that it will be set off using Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III).
Chandrayaan-II comprises an orbiter, a lander and a rover together known as “composite body”. The overall mass of Chandrayaan 2 system is 3.8 ton and out of 3.8 ton, nearly 1.3 ton is the propeller.
“Within 15 minutes GSLV Mk III will inject the composite body in the extrinsic orbit,” he added.
During the next 16 days, there will be 5 burns using propellants and said that the trans-lunar burn will be a significant maneuver as it will put the trajectory of the composite body towards the moon.
ISRO originally planned for a lunar mission in January- February. Nonetheless, it was later rescheduled to March-April window.
Later, it was set for May-July in the wake of damages suffered to the lander during preliminary tests.