ISRO fully prepared to launch Chandrayaan 2 Lunar Mission on July 15, says agency Chief K Sivan
PTI, Jul 14, 2019, 9:24 AM IST
Tirupati: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set for the country’s prestigious lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, and preparations are going on for its launch on July 15, its chairman K Sivan said on Saturday.
This will be ISRO’s first mission to land on any celestial body and a follow-up to Chandrayaan-1 launched in 2008. Its objective is to take up a detailed study on understanding the origin and evolution of the moon.
The space agency had earlier said all three modules of the moon mission — Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan) — were getting ready for the launch and the lander was expected to touch down on the lunar surface in early September.
In a brief interaction, Sivan, also Secretary of the Department of Space, said the lander would make a soft landing in the lunar South Pole, an uncharted territory so far, on September 6. He ruled out rains posing a threat to the launch. “There will be no effect since the launch vehicle (GSLVMkIII) is rain protected,” he said.
The Chandrayaan-2 would be carried by the GSLV-MkIII, dubbed ‘Fat Boy’ by Indian scientists for its ability to carry satellites weighing up to four tonnes. Asked about the total mission cost, Sivan said it was Rs 1,000 Crore.
About the ‘Gaganyaan’ project, India’s maiden human spaceflight programme, Sivan said it was progressing and the first unmanned mission would be taken up in December next year. “Currently, the design phase has been completed. Realisation phase is going on,” he said.
Two unmanned missions would be taken up, the first in December 2020 and the second on July 2021. “In December 2021, we are planning to send humans into space,” he said. About selection of candidates for the mission, he said it was proceeding on schedule.
Chandrayaan-2 is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission which had 11 payloads — five from India, three from Europe, two from the US and one from Bulgaria. The first mission had the credit for the discovery of water on the lunar surface.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Air pollution: SC flags Delhi govt’s failure to implement GRAP-4 curbs on entry of trucks
Baba Siddique murder: Man held from Akola, 26th arrest in case
SC notice to Gyanvapi mosque committee on plea for ASI survey of ‘shivling’ area
Delhi court stays defamation case against CM Atishi
Sambhal Jama Masjid row: Friday prayers held peacefully amid tight security
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Air pollution: SC flags Delhi govt’s failure to implement GRAP-4 curbs on entry of trucks
Drugs worth Rs 6 crore seized in Bengaluru, five arrested
Siddaramaiah urges Nirmala Sitharaman to address NABARD’s loan cuts to farmers
Satwik-Chirag enter semifinals, Lakshya loses to Antonsen in China Masters
BJP stages protest against Congress govt in Karnataka over Waqf properties row
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.