ISRO’s ‘Announcement of Opportunity’ to analyse Chandrayaan-2 orbiter data

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has come up with an “Announcement of Opportunity’ under which it seeks a proposal for scientifically analyse and utilise data from all experiments of the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.

Highlights

• This announcement of opportunity will be open to all researchers from recognised academic institutions, colleges, universities, planetaria and government organisations.
• As per ISRO, data from Chandrayaan-1 are extensively used by Indian researchers in order to understand lunar morphology, determination of surface age, composition of moon surface as well as studies on possible presence of magmatic & exogenic water.
• Such studies have provided enhanced views with respect to lunar evolutionary processes and expanded Indian lunar science community.
• Data from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads are made available for public and scientific proposals are used for scientific analysis, in order to strengthen Indian research community for lunar science studies.

Chandrayaan-2 orbiter

This orbiter is currently moving in a 100 km x 100 km circular polar orbit across the Moon. It carries eight experiments such as studies ranging from surface geology and composition to exospheric measurements that will help in building upon the understanding from past lunar missions. Data from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter payloads was released on December 24, 2020 for public for scientific analysis. In July 2021 another set of data were released from payloads.

About Chandrayaan-2

It is the second lunar exploration mission by ISRO, after Chandrayaan-1. It comprises of lunar orbiter, Vikram lander, and Pragyan lunar rover. All these equipments were developed in India. This mission was launched with the objective of mapping and studying variations in lunar surface composition.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2021