Former Minister of External AffairsSushma Swaraj: I salute ISROscientists for making India a space super power by successfully launching Chandrayaan 2. I wish the mission a grand success.
Welcome to Moneycontrol’s LIVE coverage of the Chandrayaan 2 launch. India’s space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its second mission to the Moon. This live blog will bring you the latest updates of the lift off on board a GSLV Mark -III rocket and the developments from Sriharikota.
Chandrayaan 2’s launch will happen at 2.43 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The mission is being executed by the ISRO -- India’s state-owned space agency. ISRO has said the mission is a “promising test bed to demonstrate technologies required for deep-space missions”.
The launch was aborted less than an hour before it was supposed to lift off in the early hours of July 15, due to a “technical snag”. It was supposed to be attended by President Ram Nath Kovind.
According to reports, the mission had to be postponed after a drop in pressure was detected after helium was filled into the tank. This indicated a leak in the fuel tank.
On the eve of launch, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said all preparations were on and the glitch had been rectified.
If successful, India will become the fourth country to soft land on the moon, after the US, erstwhile Soviet Union and China.
Chandrayaan 2 will also become the second mission to land close to the Moon’s South Pole. China’s Chang’e 4 was the first to land in the region in January. It will also attempt deploy a rover in a high plain area between two craters -- Manzinus C and Simpelius N.
On July 18, ISRO confirmed the new date and timing for the highly-anticipated launch.
The programme was approved by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 18, 2008. It has been under planning and preparation since.
If the mission begins as planned, the lunar landing is expected to happen around September 13.
Scientific experiments will continue on the lunar surface for 14 Earth days (one lunar day). The orbital experiment will happen for about one year.
As of June, the mission had been allocated Rs 978 crore (approximately $142 million).
Former Minister of External AffairsSushma Swaraj: I salute ISROscientists for making India a space super power by successfully launching Chandrayaan 2. I wish the mission a grand success.
I congratulate our scientists at ISROfor the successful launch of Chandrayaan 2 and setting yet another benchmark in the field of space technology. A grateful nation is proud of them. I also thank PM Modi ji for encouraging our institutions for setting new standards every time.
Many congratulations toISROand its women-led team that made the ambitious moon mission Chandrayaan2 launch a reality, bringing India closer to become the fourth country in the world to soft-land a spacecraft on the lunar surface.
Congratulations to ISRO scientists on flawless launching of Chandrayaan 2. Team ISRO scripted a new chapter in India’s space history with launch of this ambitious and indigenous mission to Moon. Nation is extremely proud of its scientists and Team ISRO.
In another tweet, President Kovind has said: Chandrayaan 2 will be the first spacecraft to land close to the Moon’s South Pole in some 50 days from now. The mission is expected to lead to new discoveries and enrich our knowledge systems. I wish the Chandrayaan 2 team every success.
President Ram Nath Kovind has tweeted: The historic launch of Chandrayaan 2 from Sriharikota is a proud moment for all Indians. Congratulations to our scientists and engineers for furthering India's indigenous space programme. May ISRO continue to master new technologies, and continue to conquer new frontiers.
In another tweet, PMNarendraModihas said:Efforts such as Chandrayaan 2 will further encourage our bright youngsters towards science, top quality research and innovation.Thanks to Chandrayaan, India’s lunarprogrammewill get a substantial boost. Our existing knowledge of the Moon will be significantly enhanced.
Announcing Chandrayaan 2’s successful lift off, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, “I am extremely happy to announce that the GSLV MkIII-M1 rocket has successfully injected Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft into Earth’s orbit. It is the beginning of a historic journey for India towards Moon and to land at a place near the South Pole, to carry out scientific experiments.”
ISRO’s K Sivan: Chandrayaan 2 is a three-satellite mission stacked in a single launch mission. It is my duty to salute all the people who made this possible. Our task is not over.
K Sivan on technical snag witnessed last week: ISRO has bounced back with flying colours.
ISRO’s K Sivan: After the technical glitch noticed last week, ISROscientists swung into action and corrected it within 24 hours. Tests were conducted in the next one and a half days.
ISRO’s K Sivan: The satellite is giving good signals.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan is now speaking at the mission command centre. He has announced that the GSLV Mk-III rockethas successfully inserted Chandrayaan 2 into orbit.
