Chennai: Aiming the next year's launch, the Indian Space Research Organisation is conducting descent experiments on simulated craters for the Chandrayan-2 mission, according to Isro chairman A S Kiran Kumar.
While speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Vels University convocation here on Wednesday he said, "Chandrayan-2 is different from the Chandrayan-1 mission and it needs to have a control decent on Moon."Isro is developing an engine for the controlled descent. The spacecraft is ready and ground trials are going on at Mahendragiri. We are planning to have the Chandrayan-2 launch in the first quarter of 2018," he said.
On upcoming missions, he said, "The GSLV Mk-II rocket with Saarc satellite will be launched at the end of March and GSLV Mk-III rocket will be launched in April."In his convocation address, he said, "Isro is moving forward with the development of advanced earth observation satellites, communication and navigation satellites, interplanetary missions, astronomy missions, heavy lift launchers and cryogenic engines."He also awarded honorary doctorates to Atomic Energy Commission chairman Sekhar Basu, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) director P.Sivakumar and Actor S.Sathyaraj.Vels University Chancellor Ishari K Ganesh presided over the convocation. The university vice-chancellor V Thamizh Arasan welcomed the gathering.The University conferred degrees to 1872 students, which include 31 gold, 24 silver, 22 bronze medals.
