10 Facts Children should know about Chandrayaan 2

Moon is one of those celestial bodies that has always stirred human imagination and curiosity with its splendid appearance and proximity. From lullabies to science books, the moon has made its mark everywhere.  Exploring the moon and its environ has always captured the attention of various space research institutes across the world. It was Chandrayaan1 which paved India’s way to the moon, and now we have done it yet again and how! The latest addition to the list of success of the Indian Space Research Organization has been the launch of Chandrayaan2 which is supposed to visit the south pole of the moon for the very first time in the history of space researches. The latest moon mission of ISRO involves more developed and advanced technologies and equipment than the ones used for Chandrayaan1.

No doubt this is a proud moment for the country and all of us! It is hence necessary that the budding geniuses among us, our children, understand what Chandrayaan2 is and why it is so important for our nation. We have thus brought here ten facts about Chandrayaan2 that we feel are necessary for our children to know.

1. No country has ever attempted to visit the south pole of the moon. It is India’s renowned space research centre, ISRO that has crafted the plan and sent Chandrayaan2 to launch a rover near moon’s South Pole. This mission, if successful, will add another feather to ISRO’s crown. The pioneering attempts to take a close view of moon’s South Pole and study its nature and topography would be credited to India alone.
2. With the successful launch of Chandrayaan2, India would become the fourth country to have successfully geared a soft landing on the lunar surface after the USA, Russia, and China. Surely this will mark a moment of history for all Indians and the people having an interest in space research advancements.
3. The impetus behind this moon mission has remained exploration of the southern polar region of the moon. Chandrayaan2 will also be sending the map of the area along with other geological and topographical details of the region.
4. The most critical moment for the scientists would be the time when the lander would get separated from the launcher and would get prepared for landing on the surface. The success of this high-expectation mission would depend on the smooth landing of the lander on the surface.
5. This mission is using a powerful launcher called the GSLV MK III, which has been manufactured in India.
6. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has provided the structure of the orbiter to ISRO in 2015 that would now orbit the moon from an altitude of 100 Km.
7. The 27 Kg Chandrayaan2 rover that runs on solar power has been named as Pragyan. It operates on six wheels and will traverse the distance of 300 to 400 m on the surface of the moon.
8. The rover is expected to have a life of 14 earth days, which is equivalent to 1 lunar day and it will move at a speed of 1 cm per second.
9. The lander has been named as Vikram, and it will get detached from the orbiter to land on moon’s surface.
10. A decade ago, this project was signed by ISRO and Russian Federal Agency, but the latter withdrew owing to some technical issues. Hence, the success of Chandrayaan2 will now be credited to India alone.

We, at JP International School, ranked among the best international schools in Greater Noida, share the same feeling of pride as the rest of the proud citizens of the nation. We believe that each of our young buds should have basic knowledge about Chandrayaan2 not just because it is a great mission for the country but also because it will help to kindle curiosity among the young minds. It will provoke the zeal in them to taste the flavour of science. We, at JPIS, have always kept our students roped in with the latest advancements in the field of science and technologies. And we are committed to continue doing the same through our progressive and embedded learning methods to encourage them and keep their curious minds agile and productive.