MUMBAI: Isro is mulling use of nuclear technology to increase the life span of its second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 , which is slated for lift-off in 2017.

Significantly, the technology, which will use a very small amount of nuclear energy, will have no fission. Simply put, this system will ensure complete safety. It is believed Chandrayaan-2 will have a life span of one year.

The spacecraft will be carried by the indigenously developed 3-stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mark 2), which — riding on a string of recent successes — has transformed from being Isro’s “naughty boy” to the agency’s “most adored boy”.

BARC director Sekhar Basu told TOI that his organization has already initiated studies regarding the use of nuclear technology in this mission.

“We have to start from the scratch as the required nuclear material is not available and nobody will give it to us. We have to develop them on our own in our reactorsand produce them artificially,” he said.

Basu, while acknowledging that the process could take time, said some aspects of the mission are still being worked out. The use of nuclear technology for this mission assumes significance as Chandrayaan-1’s life span was cut short by nearly two months due to a technical problem. It was launched on October 22, 2008, with a 1-year mission life. However, it stopped communicating on August 29, 2009.

The mission profile for Chandrayaan-2 includes an orbiter, lander and a rover, which will study the mineralogy of the lunar surface.

On August 7, 2009, former Isro chief Madhavan Nair had told the media at IIT-B: “We are thinking of powering some parts of Chandrayaan-2 with nuclear power.” However, in the past six years this plan had remained on paper following widespread apprehensions about use of nuclear technology in space missions. The plan has now been revived.

According to nuclear experts, the advantage of a nuclear power system in a spacecraft is that it functions independently of sunlight, which is necessary for deep space exploration.

Mumbai: Isro is mulling use of nuclear technology to increase the life span of its second moon mission Chandrayaan-2, which is slated for lift-off in 2017.

Significantly, the technology, which will use a very small amount of nuclear energy, will have no fission. Simply put, this system will ensure complete safety. It is believed Chandrayaan-2 will have a life span of one year.

The spacecraft will be carried by the indigenously developed 3-stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mark 2), which — riding on a string of recent successes — has transformed from being Isro’s “naughty boy” to the agency’s “most adored boy”.

BARC director Sekhar Basu told TOI that his organization has already initiated studies regarding the use of nuclear technology in this mission. “We have to start from the scratch as the required nuclear material is not available and nobody will give it to us. We have to develop them on our own in our reactors,” he said.

Basu, while acknowledging that the process could take time, said some aspects of the mission are still being worked out. The use of nuclear technology for this mission assumes significance as Chandrayaan-1’s life span was cut short by nearly two months due to a technical problem. It was launched on October 22, 2008, with a 1-year mission life. However, it stopped communicating on August 29, 2009.

The mission profile for Chandrayaan-2 includes an orbiter, lander and a rover, which will study the mineralogy of the lunar surface.

On August 7, 2009, former Isro chief Madhavan Nair had told the media: “We are thinking of powering some parts of Chandrayaan-2 with nuclear power.” However, in the past six years this plan had remained on paper following widespread apprehensions about use of nuclear technology in space missions. The plan has now been revived.

According to nuclear experts, the advantage of a nuclear power system in a spacecraft is that it functions independently of sunlight, which is necessary for deep space exploration.

