India Readies Lunar Surface Rover for 2011

Asia is on the move to the Moon with India now making ready the Chandrayaan-2 for launch in August 2011 as a follow-up to its first probe to orbit gathing remote sensing data of the lunar surface. Chandrayaan 2 actually includes three vehicles: an orbiter, lander and rover unlike the first that merely orbited the Moon.

With a measure of assistance from Russia, India will seek to leap from the Chinese lunar program next year. The Chandrayaan 2's lunar rover will have two payloads, both of them spectroscopes. Using these instruments, the rover will analyze the elemental composition of the moon's surface near its landing site. It will land with the assistance of a Russian-made lunar lander aftering being sent to the moon aboard an Indian-made booster. Stay-tuned to the Asian space race!