Minister of state for PMO V Narayanaswamy recently announced in the Parliament that the mission, which is likely to take place in 2016-17, is progressing well with Isro having identified landing spots on the lunar surface. The two scientific payloads onboard the Chandrayaan-1 terrain mapping camera had captured a number of images of the lunar surface, which have been used for zeroing in on the designated spots.
Rocks from Sithampoondi, Kunnamalai are similar in properties to moon soil
As commands erupt into life, a 17-kg rover, akin to the rover of Chandrayaan-2, revs up. It turns right, then left, lurches forward and backs up.
We identified Sithampoondi, from where we excavated 60 tonnes of rocks which are geologically similar to the lunar composition. We made a special effort to pulverise the rocks to various sizes ranging from 30 to 200 microns and mix them in various proportions to match the chemical and mechanical properties of the lunar soil to study the rover’s movements on it in a simulated environment.
Since the gravity on the moon is one-sixth of the earth’s gravity, a helium-filled balloon which will lift five-sixths of the rover’s weight is being used in the lunar terrain facility.
We have realised a six-wheeled rover and it is being tested in the lunar terrain facility. The design work on the lander is in progress in ISRO.
Weighing 20 kg, it will move about on the moon for one lunar day, that is, 14 earth days, Dr. Annadurai said. It would be loaded with commands for turning to the left and right, for going forward and backing down.
That article also says the landing is in 2017. Maybe someone should update the thread title.
Thanks for the updates, antriksh. Will the orbiter be based on an ISRO satellite bus (I-2K/I-3K/I-4K?) or PAM-G?
Quote from: vyoma on 08/05/2014 02:32 pmThanks for the updates, antriksh. Will the orbiter be based on an ISRO satellite bus (I-2K/I-3K/I-4K?) or PAM-G?Orbiter will be from chandrayaan 1 with integration interface for the lander.Updates are from ISRO annual report 2014.
Quote from: antriksh on 08/05/2014 02:36 pmQuote from: vyoma on 08/05/2014 02:32 pmThanks for the updates, antriksh. Will the orbiter be based on an ISRO satellite bus (I-2K/I-3K/I-4K?) or PAM-G?Orbiter will be from chandrayaan 1 with integration interface for the lander.Updates are from ISRO annual report 2014.Thanks. I think Chandryaan 1 was based on ISRO IRS (I-1K) bus.
Quote from: vyoma on 08/05/2014 03:09 pmQuote from: antriksh on 08/05/2014 02:36 pmQuote from: vyoma on 08/05/2014 02:32 pmThanks for the updates, antriksh. Will the orbiter be based on an ISRO satellite bus (I-2K/I-3K/I-4K?) or PAM-G?Orbiter will be from chandrayaan 1 with integration interface for the lander.Updates are from ISRO annual report 2014.Thanks. I think Chandryaan 1 was based on ISRO IRS (I-1K) bus.ISTR reading in multiple sources that the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter will use the I-3K bus.
7. When will Chandrayaan-2 be launched?Chandrayaan-2 mission will be totally an Indian mission, configured with an Orbiter, Lander and Rover for in-situ investigation of the lunar surface. A six wheel Rover has been realised and initial tests have been conducted in the lunar terrain test facility. Besides, the development of Indian Lander involves many new technologies in the areas of navigation, control and guidance, sensors, soft landing and so on. Based on the present assessment of the progress, we may be in a position to launch it in 2016-2017 timeframe.
I'll add some uninformed speculation of my own.Perhaps they have confused RHUs and ASRGs/MMRTGs?
[...]Because the advanced RTG has moving parts, NASA is seeking a flight opportunity to qualify it prior to its use on long duration outer planetary missions. [...]