Chandrayaan-2: Everything you need to know about ISRO's GSLV Mk-III launcher and spacecraft designed for moon landing

ISRO's GSLV Mk-III rocket that consists of three modules, namely Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) & Rover (Pragyan) will lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh at 2.43 pm today. The key highlight the mission Chandrayaan-2 is ISRO's plan to attempt a soft-landing at the proposed site close to the lunar South Pole where no space agency has got to so far, among others. With less than an hour to go for the mission to launch, here's everything you need to know about the mission's launcher and spacecraft.

READ | Chandrayaan 2 LIVE: India set to script history with ISRO's moon mission, Latest updates here

GSLV Mk-III Launcher

The Chandrayaan-2 mission will be carried out by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV MK III) rocket, which is designed to launch satellites into geostationary orbit. It consists of three modules: Orbiter, Lander and Rover, and we'll talk about each one of them later in this article. Orbiter and Lander modules are interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module while Lander houses the Rover. The GSLV Mk-III can launch 4-ton class of satellites to the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

After launching into earthbound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module of Orbiter and Lander will reach Moon's orbit using Orbiter propulsion module. The Lander will eventually part ways with the Orbiter and soft-land at the proposed site close to the lunar South Pole. Afterwards, the Rover would perform certain scientific experiments on the lunar surface.

Components of GSLV Mk-III

• S200 solid rocket boosters
• L110 liquid stage
• C25 upper stage

Orbiter

The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter will be capable of communicating with Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) at Byalalu as well as the Vikram Lander. The average mission life span of the Orbiter is one year and it will be deployed in a 100X100 km lunar polar orbit.

• Weight: 2,379 kg
• Electric Power Generation Capability: 1,000 W

Vikram Lander

Did you know? The Chandrayaan-2's lander is named Vikram after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who is widely regarded as the father of India's space programme. It will be capable of communicating with IDSN at Byalalu, as well as with the Orbiter and Rover. The Lander is responsible for soft-landing on the lunar surface.

• Weight: 1,471 kg
• Electric Power Generation Capability: 650 W

Pragyan Rover

In a nutshell, the Pragyan Rover is a 6-wheeled robotic vehicle that can travel up to half a kilometre and leverages solar energy for its functioning. It can only communicate with the Lander.

• Weight: 27 kg
• Electric Power Generation Capability: 50 W