Chandrayaan-2: Things You Know And (Probably) Don’t
ISRO will have its “15 terrifying minutes” as it attempts a soft-landing on the surface of the moon.
The Indian Space Research Organisation will have its “15 terrifying minutes” as it attempts a soft-landing on the surface of the moon.
Chandrayaan 2’s Vikram lander is carrying the Pragyan rover inside. The lander will separate from the orbiter after which it will make its descent.
A successful landing of the Chandrayaan-2 will propel India into an elite club of the U.S., Russia and China that have made a soft-landing on the moon. And it builds on the nation’s space-faring capability, proven with the Chandrayaan-1 and the Mangalyaan missions.
The next big step will be India’s manned mission to space. India plans to send a three-member crew into space by 2022. Prior to that, ISRO will send an unmanned craft into space.
Where No One Has Ventured
The lunar south pole is a favourite of space scientists for one reason: the occurrence of water ice. The south pole has a number of unique craters where sunlight never reaches. Besides, such craters are also cold traps which contain traces of hydrogen, water ice and other elements dating from the early Solar System.
Odds Of A Coin Toss
Soft-landings on the moon are no easy feat. Many have tried and failed. While the U.S. and erstwhile Soviet Union have a number of successful landings, they all have been on the near side of the moon. China, earlier this year, successfully landed on the dark side of the moon.
But the odds of success are as good as a coin toss.
According to ISRO, there have been 38 attempts of a soft landing on the moon. Of these only 52 percent have been successful.
Trained On South Indian Soil
Scientists at ISRO have been known to come up with ingenious ideas. The testing for Chandrayaan-2 mission was no different.
Much before they actually sent a spacecraft to moon, they had to test it on Earth. For that they needed to recreate lunar soil—all its features, texture, temperature and low gravity.
It had an option of importing expensive simulated lunar soil from the U.S. But ISRO came up with its own low-cost option.
With the help of geologists from across the country, they found few sites near Salem in Tamil Nadu which had ‘anorthosite rock’ which are very close to composition to that of the moon’s surface. The soil from Sithampoondi and Kunnamalai villages was used and crushed down to micro grain sizes.
Viola! ISRO’s very own lunar soil substitute was hence ready.
The Two Key Craters
The moon is full of craters: depression on the surface likely created by an impact event. And all craters have their own names based on deceased scientists, polar explorers, astronauts or cosmonauts.
The Vikram lander will be landing between the Manzinus C and Simpelius N craters.
The Manzinus crater is named after Carlo Antonio Manzini, an Italian astronomer who lived in the 17th century. Manzini’s works include one of the oldest accounts for manufacturing of lenses through grinding and polishing.
Simpelius, on the other hand, is named after Scottish mathematician Hugh Sempill.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Lunar Night
Taking inspiration from the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, India’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover will certainly not “go gentle into the good night”.
Fourteen days after they make their descent to begin their work, and script history for India, the two space vehicles will get frozen by the harsh lunar night.
A lunar day equals 14 days on Earth, and a lunar night is the same length.
Vikram and Pragyaan aren’t meant to survive that. But they can take hope from the fact that China’s Chan’e 4 rover did survive the frigid 14 days. Perhaps ISRO is hoping for that too. They will attempt to revive the duo once the sun rises over the moon again.