Why in News

• India’s much-delayed second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, has got yet another launch window.

Chandrayaan-2

• The mission is set to be launched any time in july
• The moon landing is likely to be around nearly two months after the launch, ISRO said.the second lunar mission of ISRO will have three modules — the Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan).
• The Orbiter and Lander will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle, ISRO said. “After launch into earth bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach the Moon orbit using Orbiter propulsion module. Subsequently, Lander will separate from the Orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to lunar South Pole. Further the Rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface,
• The mission would land on the southern pole of the moon, which has not been explored much before by any of the countries. The landing of the craft near the lunar south pole would be historically significant as it would give ISRO the opportunity to name that site on the moon.

GSLV Mk III:

• GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.
• GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of GSLV Mk II.