CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -After missions to the moon and Mars, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now set its eyes on Venus and also plans to explore the dark side of the moon in collaboration with Japan.

Detailed explanation-2: -As per the initial plans, a lunar lander and rover built by ISRO will be put into orbit by a Japanese rocket with a planned landing near the south pole of the moon. “The rover will then travel to the permanent shadow region of the moon which never sees sunlight,” Mr. Bhardwaj said.

Detailed explanation-3: -Earlier reports had emerged about a collaboration with Japan on a mission to the lunar south pole where India would be providing the lander while Japan would provide both launcher and rover.

Detailed explanation-4: -The umbra is the central dark part of the shadow that causes total Solar and Lunar eclipses. The Penumbra is a half-shadow region that occurs when a light source is only partly covered by an object, for example, when the Moon obscures part of the Sun’s disk (Fig. 2.15).

Detailed explanation-5: -Chandrayaan-2 mission is a highly complex mission, which represents a significant technological leap compared to the previous missions of ISRO. It comprised an Orbiter, Lander and Rover to explore the unexplored South Pole of the Moon.