India to witness launch of two moon missions by early 2018

India will witness the launch of two lunar missions early next year by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). ISRO will launch its Chandrayaan – 2 mission which is an advanced version of its previous 2018 mission with the objective of a deeper lunar surface probe, and another mission by Team Indus, a group of space enthusiasts who want to unfurl the Tricolour on the moon’s surface as a part of a global lunar competition.

The Team Indus consists of mostly young engineers. It is led by IIT-Delhi alumnus Rahul Narayan. They are planning the mission as a part of a global contest. This will help them win $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE. It stipulates the rover of a competing team and has to move 500 meters on the moon’s surface. Those in the competition should also be able to beam back high-definition images back to Earth.

Team Indus roped in investors like Infosys co-founder and former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani to fulfil this ambition. They also roped in space experts such as former ISRO former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani and space experts such as former Isro. “Team Indus is pursuing a big hairy audacious goal. I invested in Team Indus as I believe in their audacious mission to reach and land on the moon”, Nandan Nilekani told TOI.

ISRO chairman told that both the missions are different. “Both the missions are scientifically and technically totally different. Both the missions are scientifically and technically totally different”, he informed. Kiran Kumar gave best wishes to Team Indus for their mission.

Apart from Team Indus, a US team (Moon Express), an Israeli team (SpaceIL) and an international team (Synergy Moon) have also procured launch contracts. Team Indus will be using the service of PSLV to take its 600-kg baby spacecraft to the lunar orbit.

ISRO, on the other hand, will use its heavy-lift rocket GSLV Mk II for the mission. Dr K Sivan, director of Thiruvananthapuram-based Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, said, “Unlike the 2008 Chandrayaan-1 mission when PSLV rocket was used for carrying the spacecraft, this time Isro is planning to take a heavier payload (combined launch mass: 3,250 kg) comprising orbiter, lander and rover to the moon. Therefore, GSLV Mk II is the preferred choice.”

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