Chandrayaan 2: India’s Bold Next Step to the Lunar South Pole

Launched on 22 July 2019 by ISRO, the Chandrayaan 2 mission marked a daring attempt to soft-land a rover near the Moon’s south pole. Comprised of an orbiter, a Vikram lander, and a six-wheeled Pragyan rover, this complex mission advanced India’s lunar exploration capabilities :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.

🎯 Primary Objectives

• Demonstrate **safe soft landing** and rover deployment near the lunar south pole :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
• Map lunar topography and mineralogy using high-resolution cameras and spectrometers :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
• Study the lunar exosphere and search for water/hydroxyl molecules :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Carry out seismic measurements and assess surface thermal properties :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

📅 Mission Timeline

After leaving Earth orbit on 22 July 2019 via GSLV Mk III, the spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 20 August. The Vikram lander descended and attempted touchdown on 7 September but lost communication at ~2 km altitude :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. Despite this, the orbiter continues its work, functioning well beyond its planned one-year lifespan :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

🔬 Notable Scientific Discoveries

• Water detection: The orbiter’s IIRS and dual-frequency SAR confirmed water molecules and ice not only at poles but across latitudes :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Elemental mapping: CLASS X-ray spectrometer detected both major and trace elements like chromium, manganese, and sodium over ~95% of lunar surface :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Solar studies: The XSM instrument provided high-resolution data on solar flares and coronal heating dynamics :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
• Orbital imaging: High-resolution images of Apollo 11/12 landing sites captured by Chandrayaan‑2 showcased its mapping prowess :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

🛰️ Payload Details & Technology

The mission included:

• Orbiter with eight instruments including SAR, IIRS, CLASS, XSM, and TMC-2 :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Vikram lander (1,471 kg), equipped with seismometer, Langmuir Probe, Laser Retroreflector, ChaSTE, RAMBHA :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Pragyan rover (27 kg), solar-powered with LIBS & APXS for elemental analysis, stereo cameras for 3D mapping :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.

🔬 Mission Significance

Chandrayaan‑2 aimed to place India in the top four lunar-landing nations and paved the way for deeper lunar research :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}. It also inspired women leadership—Muthayya Vanitha and Ritu Karidhal led the mission :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}. Despite the lighthouse setback, data from the orbiter continues to shape future missions like LUPEX, Artemis, and Chandrayaan‑3 :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.

📈 Road Ahead

Learnings from Chandrayaan‑2 enabled the success of Chandrayaan‑3, which achieved India’s first south pole landing. The orbiter continues to deliver valuable lunar insights, underscoring ISRO’s growing prowess in cost-effective space exploration :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.

📌 Conclusion

Chandrayaan‑2 may not have achieved a soft landing, but as a **robust orbiter mission**, it greatly advanced our understanding of lunar water, mineralogy, and solar interactions. It stands as a major milestone in India’s lunar journey and a springboard to future interplanetary exploration.