India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-II, which would land a rover on the lunar surface is expected to be launched in April, Minister of State, Atomic Energy and Space Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Friday.
“It is Chandrayaan-I which discovered water on the moon. This will be an extension of that,” Dr. Singh said.
Chandrayaan-II would cost about Rs. 800 crore. It presented many technological challenges as it had three components: an orbiter, a lander and a moon rover.
Dr. Sivan of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the launch window was April to October and they would attempt to launch it in April.
The orbiter had a life of one year while the lander and the rover were designed to last a lunar day, which was 14 days, as they worked on solar power.
A location had been identified at the Moon’s South Pole to drop the lander and rover.
“This site had not been explored by anyone before,” Dr. Sivan added.
