Chandrayaan-2 launch postponed again
Team Udayavani, Aug 5, 2018, 12:38 PM IST
New Delhi: There will be a further delay in the launch of India’s second mission to the moon Chandrayaan-2 and it may be no sooner than January, according to a top official.
The postponement of the ambitious mission from October comes in the wake of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facing two setbacks in less than a year. The launch of the mission was first planned in April.
Earlier this year, the ISRO had launched GSAT-6A, a military communication satellite, but lost communication with it. Following this, the ISRO also recalled the launch of GSAT-11 from from Kourou, French Guiana, for additional technical checks. Last September, the PSLV- C39 mission, carrying the IRNSS-1H navigation satellite, failed after the heat shield refused to open and release the satellite.
The ISRO is treading a cautious path after these two setbacks as Chandrayaan-2 is one of the crucial launches for the space agency, particularly after Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission). It is also ISRO’s first mission to land on any celestial body. “We don’t want to take any risk,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
The official added that there are certain windows during which the mission could be launched. The next launch window is likely to be in January. Repeated attempts to solicit a response from ISRO Chairman K Sivan were not successful.
In April, Sivan informed the government about the postponement of the launch to October-November. A national-level committee to review Chandrayaan-2 recommended some additional tests before the mission could take off.
Chandrayaan-2 will be ISRO’s first time attempt to land a rover on the Moon. The rover of India’s second lunar mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, will be made to land near the yet-unexplored south pole.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
3 killed, 6 injured as truck crushes people sleeping on footpath in Pune
Ambedkar row: Congress to hold nationwide protest against Amit Shah’s remarks
Notorious gangster wanted in UAPA case arrested at Nepal border
‘Condition critical’, say doctors as farmer leader Dallewal’s fast enters 27th day
ISRO to study how crops grow in space on PSLV-C60 mission
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
3 killed, 6 injured as truck crushes people sleeping on footpath in Pune
Perla Fire Disaster: Five shops completely gutted; Loss estimated at Rs 1.83 crore
Ambedkar row: Congress to hold nationwide protest against Amit Shah’s remarks
Special trains announced from Bengaluru for Christmas and Kumbh Mela
H D Kumaraswamy announces Rs 15,000 crore revival plan for Bhadravati Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Factory
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.