7 payloads for Chandrayaan-2 identified
All the seven payloads are Indian, more may be added later
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has finalised the Indian list of payloads to be carried on Chandrayaan-2, the second mission to the moon.
Five payloads have been finalised for the orbiter, while two have been finalised for the rover. The payloads were finalised by a national committee of experts from ISRO centres, academic institutions and research labs. The Committee was chaired by Head of Advisory Committee on Space Sciences U R Rao, a release from ISRO stated.
All the seven payloads are Indian, although ISRO does not rule out adding more payloads.
ISRO spokesperson S Satish said, accommodating Indian payloads was of a higher priority and additional payloads could be added later. Three of the payloads are new, while two of them are advanced versions of the payloads flown earlier on Chandrayaan-1.
Chandrayaan-2, which is expected to be launched in 2013 will have an orbiter, a lander and a rover and will be launched using the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
While the lander will be provided by Russia, the orbiter and the rover are being built by ISRO.
Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft will weigh about 2,650 kg at lift-off, of which the orbiter weight is about 1,400 kg and lander weight is about 1,250 kg.
The Payloads
On the rover
1. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) from Laboratory for Electro Optic Systems (LEOS), Bangalore
2. Alpha Particle Induced X –ray Spectroscope (APIXS) from PRL, Ahmedabad. Both the instruments on the rover are expected to carry out elemental analysis of the lunar surface near the landing site.
On the Orbiter
1. Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) from ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore and Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for mapping the major elements present on the lunar surface.
2. L and S band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad for probing the first few tens of meters of the lunar surface for the presence of different constituents including water ice. SAR is expected to provide further evidence confirming the presence of water ice below the shadowed regions of the moon.
3. Imaging IR Spectrometer (IIRS) from SAC, Ahmedabad for the mapping of lunar surface over a wide wavelength range for the study of minerals, water molecules and hydroxyl present.
4. Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ChACE–2) from Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), Thiruvananthapuram to carry out a detailed study of the lunar exosphere.
5. Terrain Mapping Camera–2 (TMC–2) from SAC, Ahmedabad for preparing a three-dimensional map essential for studying the lunar mineralogy and geology.
