Chandrayaan programme

The Indian Lunar Exploration Programme (Sanskrit: चन्द्रयान Chandrayāna, lit: Moon vehicle <phonos file="Chandrayaan.ogg">pronunciation</phonos>), also known as the Chandrayaan programme, is an ongoing series of outer space missions by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The programme incorporates a lunar orbiter and future lunar lander & rover spacecraft.

Programme structure

The Chandrayaan (Indian Lunar Exploration Programme) programme is a multiple mission programme and so far only one orbiter has been sent to the Moon using ISRO's workhorse PSLV rocket and the second spacecraft is being readied for late 2016-early 2017 launch using GSLV rocket.

Phase I: Orbital missions

The first phase includes the launch of the first lunar orbiters.

• Chandrayaan-1, launched on 22 October 2008 aboard a PSLV-XL rocket, was a big success for ISRO as the Moon Impact Probe, a payload on board the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, discovered water on the Moon. Apart from discovering water the Chandrayaan-1 mission had performed several other tasks such as mapping and atmospheric profiling of the Moon.

Phase II: Soft landers/rovers

The second phase is under preparation which will incorporate spacecraft capable of soft-landing on the Moon and will also deploy a robotic rover on lunar surface.

• Chandrayaan-2, to be launched in 2017 aboard the heavy duty GSLV Mk II rocket.