NEW DELHI: Chandrayaan-2, the first Indian moon landing mission, is all set to head on its 384000 kms voyage to the moon on Monday, July 22.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has scheduled the launch of its lunar probe, by a GSLV MkIII rocket, from the country’s Sriharikota spaceport for 2.45 p.m (IST).
ISRO scientists work on the orbiter vehicle and lander of Chandrayaan-2 in Bengaluru.
A sequel to Chandrayaan-1, which was launched in 2008 and only orbited the moon at a distance of 100 km, Chandrayaan-2 entails the first attempt by any nation to make a landing on the moon’s mineral rich south pole.
India’s launch a week ago (July 15) was called off less than an hour before liftoff due to a “technical snag.”
Indian media reports said the launch was aborted after ISRO scientists identified a leak while filling helium in the cryogenic engine of the rocket. The ISRO neither confirmed nor denied the reports, saying instead that the problem had been identified and corrected.
The spacecraft carries an orbiter, a lander and a rover which will move around on the lunar surface for 14 earth days. It will take around 47 days to travel and land on the moon in September.
India plans to send its first manned spaceflight by 2022.
How to watch the Chandrayaan-2 launch ?
ISRO will be handling live streaming duties across its social media pages so you should be able to tune in at the ISRO Twitter or follow Facebook page. Similarly, India’s public broadcaster Doordarshan will also carry a live stream on its YouTube channel.
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