CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -GSLV-Mk III - M1 / Chandrayaan-2 Mission. India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, GSLV MkIII-M1, successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft on July 22, 2019 into its planned orbit with a perigee (nearest point to Earth) of 169.7 km and an apogee (farthest point to Earth) of 45,475 km.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Chandrayaan-3 mission will tentatively be launched between June and July 2023. The mission will only be carrying a Lunar lander and rover, unlike its predecessor which carried an orbiter, lander and rover.

Detailed explanation-3: -Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft is the 3rd lunar exploration expedition, outlined by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It will only consist of a rover and lander and will communicate with the earth via an orbiter from Chandrayaan 2.

Detailed explanation-4: -The primary objectives of the Chandrayaan-2 lander were to demonstrate the ability to soft-land and operate a robotic rover on the lunar surface. The scientific goals of the orbiter are: to study lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, the lunar exosphere, and signatures of hydroxyl and water ice.