Lok Sabha Question No. 588 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-20
Subject: Launch of Chandrayaan-II
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Kirti Vardhan Singh

## 588.

- (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.588

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019

## LAUNCH OF CHANDRAYAAN-II

- SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- the cost incurred on the launch of Chandrayaan-II;
- (b) whether the launch was successful taking in view the various research on Moon which was planned by the scientists of ISRO and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  reasons  for  the  failure  of  the  Vikram  Lander  to  land smoothly on the surface of the Moon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) The approved cost of Chandrayaan-II Project is Rs. 603 Crore (excluding  launch  cost).  Chandrayaan-II  was  launched  onboard the GSLV MK III M1. The cost of GSLV MK III M1 vehicle is    Rs. 367 Crore.
- (b) & (c) Chandrayaan-II Spacecraft was successfully launched. The objectives of Chandrayaan-II Mission were:
1. Scientific studies through payloads on-board the orbiter
2. Technology  demonstration  of  soft  landing  and  roving  on  the lunar surface

The indigenously developed Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft comprising  of  Orbiter,  Lander  and  Rover  was  successfully launched on-board indigenous GSLV MK III-M1 Mission on 22nd July  2019.  After  accomplishing  four  earth  bound  maneuvers and  Trans  Lunar  Injection,  the  spacecraft  was  successfully inserted into the Lunar orbit on 20th August 2019. A series of moon  bound  maneuvers  were  then  carried  out  to  achieve  a Lunar orbit of 119x127 km. The Lander 'Vikram' was separated,  as  planned,  from  the  Orbiter  on  2nd  September 2019.  After  two  successful  de-orbiting  maneuvers,  powered descent of the Lander was initiated on 7th September 2019 to achieve soft landing on the moon surface.

The first  phase  of  descent  was  performed  nominally  from  an altitude  of  30  km  to  7.4  km  above  the  moon  surface.  The velocity  was  reduced  from  1683  m/s  to  146  m/s.  During  the second phase of descent, the reduction in velocity was more than  the  designed  value.  Due  to  this  deviation,  the  initial conditions at the start of the fine braking phase were beyond the  designed  parameters.  As  a  result,  Vikram  hard  landed within 500 m of the designated landing site.

Most of the components of Technology demonstration, including the launch, orbital critical maneuvers, lander separation, de-boost and rough braking phase were successfully  accomplished.  With  regards  to  the  scientific objectives, all the 8 state of the art  scientific instruments of the  Orbiter  are  performing  as  per  the  design  and  providing valuable scientific data. Due to the precise launch and orbital maneuvers,  the  mission  life  of  the  Orbiter  is  increased  to  7 years.  The  data  received  from  the  Orbiter  is  being  provided continuously  to  the  scientific  community.  The  same  was recently reviewed in an all India user meet organized at New Delhi.

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