Chandrayaan 2 aims to explore the dark side of the moon

Chandrayaan-2 is set to launch on July 15 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. India's second mission to the Moon aims to venture the satellite’s south polar region, also known as the dark side of the moon. 

The moon’s south pole is much larger and unexplored than the north pole. Studies in the lunar south pole will help understand the origin and evolution of satellite, says Indian Space Research Organisation.

The region has craters that are cold traps and contain a fossil record of the early solar system. Chandrayaan 2 aims to extensively map the lunar surface to study variations in lunar surface composition to trace back the origin and evolution of the Moon.

ISRO also aims to study the extent of water molecule distribution on the lunar surface. There is a possibility of the presence of water in permanently shadowed areas around the south pole

What makes Chandrayaan 2 special?

• 1st space mission that might do a soft landing in the region
• 1st Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing with home-grown tech
• 1st Indian mission to explore the lunar terrain with home-grown tech
• 4th country ever to soft-land on the moon

Chandrayaan 2 has been allocated Rs 978 crore, including Rs 603 crore for the space segment and Rs 375 crore as launch costs on GSLV Mk III