Chennai sources reported that this time it plans to send a rover to explore the lunar surface. If the April launch of the Chandrayaan-2, the country's second mission to the Moon, is not possible, then the ISRO will aim for a launch by October. Indian Space Research Organization chairman K Sivan told reporters “They are aiming for the launch of Chandrayaan-2 in April. In case we are unable to do so, then we will try for a launch by October”.
Accordingly the Chandrayaan-2 satellite would comprise an orbiter, Lander and six-wheeled rover which would move around the landing site and instruments on it would send back data that would be useful in analyzing the lunar soil. Meanwhile after reaching the lunar orbit, the Lander housing the rover will separate from the orbiter.
Further after a controlled descent, the Lander will
soft land on the lunar surface at a specified site and deploy the rover. Sivan
said scientists were also gearing up for the launch of communication satellite
GSAT-6 on-board GSLV-F08, scheduled later this month. He said "Their
immediate plan is a GSLV flight. We are planning to launch it by the end of
this month. After that we plan to launch navigation satellite IRNSS-1I”.
