# Chandrayaan-2

> India's second lunar exploration mission

**Wikidata**: [Q325065](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q325065)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chandrayaan-2

## Summary
Chandrayaan-2 is India's second lunar exploration mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to study the Moon. It consisted of an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan, aiming to expand India's lunar research capabilities.

## Key Facts
- Launched on **July 22, 2019**, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad.
- Operated by the **Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)**.
- Included three components: an **orbiter**, the **Vikram lander**, and the **Pragyan rover**.
- The orbiter remains active in a **100 km polar orbit** around the Moon.
- The Vikram lander attempted a **soft landing** near the lunar south pole on **September 6, 2019**, but experienced a hard landing.
- Part of the **Chandrayaan programme**, following **Chandrayaan-1** and preceding **Chandrayaan-3**.
- Carried scientific instruments including the **Terrain Mapping Camera-2**, **Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer**, and **Orbiter High Resolution Camera**.
- Launch vehicle: **Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3)**.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Chandrayaan-2?
A: Chandrayaan-2 aimed to expand India's lunar exploration by studying the Moon's surface, mineral composition, and exosphere using an orbiter, lander, and rover.

### Q: Did Chandrayaan-2 successfully land on the Moon?
A: The Vikram lander attempted a soft landing on September 6, 2019, but experienced a hard landing. The orbiter, however, continues to operate successfully.

### Q: What scientific instruments did Chandrayaan-2 carry?
A: The mission included instruments like the Terrain Mapping Camera-2, Solar X-ray Monitor, Imaging IR Spectrometer, and Orbiter High Resolution Camera.

### Q: How is Chandrayaan-2 related to other Indian lunar missions?
A: It is the second mission in the Chandrayaan programme, following Chandrayaan-1 (2008) and preceding Chandrayaan-3.

### Q: What happened to the Vikram lander?
A: The Vikram lander deviated from its intended trajectory during descent and crashed near the lunar south pole on September 6, 2019.

## Why It Matters
Chandrayaan-2 represents a significant milestone in India's space exploration efforts, demonstrating the country's growing capabilities in lunar science and technology. Despite the lander's hard landing, the orbiter continues to provide valuable data about the Moon's surface, mineralogy, and atmosphere. The mission has contributed to global lunar research, particularly in studying the Moon's south pole—a region of interest for future exploration due to its potential water ice deposits. Additionally, Chandrayaan-2 has inspired further missions, including Chandrayaan-3, and has strengthened India's position in the international space community.

## Notable For
- First Indian mission to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface.
- Successfully deployed an orbiter that remains operational in lunar orbit.
- Carried advanced scientific instruments to study the Moon's composition and environment.
- Part of India's ambitious Chandrayaan programme, advancing lunar exploration.
- Demonstrated ISRO's capability to design and execute complex interplanetary missions.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Chandrayaan-2 was India's second lunar exploration mission, launched on **July 22, 2019**, using the **Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3)**. The mission consisted of three main components:
- **Orbiter**: Continues to orbit the Moon at an altitude of **100 km**, conducting scientific observations.
- **Vikram Lander**: Attempted a soft landing near the lunar south pole but crashed on **September 6, 2019**.
- **Pragyan Rover**: Designed to explore the lunar surface but was unable to deploy due to the lander's failure.

### Scientific Objectives
The mission aimed to:
- Study the Moon's topography, mineralogy, and elemental abundance.
- Analyze the lunar exosphere and surface composition.
- Search for water ice in the permanently shadowed regions near the south pole.

### Instruments
The orbiter carried several scientific instruments, including:
- **Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2)**: For high-resolution imaging of the lunar surface.
- **Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS)**: To study the Moon's elemental composition.
- **Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM)**: To measure solar X-ray flux.
- **Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC)**: For detailed imaging of the landing site.

### Launch and Trajectory
- Launched from the **Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad** on July 22, 2019.
- Entered lunar orbit on **August 20, 2019**.
- The Vikram lander separated from the orbiter on **September 2, 2019**, and attempted landing on **September 6, 2019**.

### Outcome
While the lander and rover did not achieve their intended objectives, the orbiter continues to function and transmit data. The mission has provided valuable insights into lunar science and has paved the way for future Indian lunar missions, including **Chandrayaan-3**.

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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. BBC Things
4. Quora