Explanations:The launch of Chandrayaan-2, India's second lunar exploration mission, took place on July 22, 2019, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The SDSC is a critical facility for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and serves as the primary launch site for many of its space missions.
The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, approximately 80 kilometers north of Chennai. The location was chosen for its proximity to the equator, which provides a significant advantage in launching satellites and spacecraft. Being closer to the equator allows for more efficient use of fuel and a higher payload capacity due to the Earth's rotational speed at the equator.
Chandrayaan-2 was a complex mission that aimed to study the Moon's surface and subsurface. The mission consisted of an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. The orbiter was successfully placed in lunar orbit, while the lander and rover were intended to land near the Moon's south pole. Although the lander did not achieve a soft landing, the orbiter continues to conduct scientific observations from lunar orbit.
Understanding the launch site of Chandrayaan-2 is important for students preparing for competitive exams, as it tests their knowledge of significant events and locations in the Indian space program. The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is a key facility that has been the launch site for numerous important missions, including Chandrayaan-2, and is a point of pride for the Indian space program.