- The Indian Space Research Organisation (
ISRO ) has rescheduled the launch ofChandrayaan 2 for July 22 at 2:43 pm. - India’s second lunar mission was originally planned for July 15 but called off after one of the launch vehicle’s fuel tanks showed a drop in pressure.
- ISRO has confirmed that all ‘technical snags’ aboard Chandrayaan 2 was been corrected.
Chandrayaan 2, India’s bid to be the first country to land on the Moon’s South Pole, is now scheduled for July 22 at 2:43pm. It will still be taking off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission was originally pegged to launch on July 15 but the countdown was paused at 56mins when scientists discovered pressure dropping in one of GSLV Mark III-M1’s fuel tanks.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officially announced the new launch after confirming that any ‘technical snags’ aboard the GSLV Mark III-M1 have been corrected.
Insiders also indicated the launch would have been initiated has it been any other mission but they did not wish to take any risks with Chandrayaan 2 because of its national and scientific significance.
Why is Chandrayaan 2 a big deal?
India’s second mission to the moon is a milestone for the country since this will make it the fourth country in the world to land on the lunar surface. It will also be the first time that anyone has gone to the Moon’s South Pole, if the soft-landing goes according to plan.
Vikram, the rover, and Pragayaan, the lander, is also the first time that India has indigenously developed these technologies.
Aside from the records it's going to break, Chandrayaan’s 2 main prerogative is to figure out if there’s really any water on the Moon, how much of it exists and where can we find it.
See also:
India's second moon mission Chandrayaan 2 that will cost ₹10 billion will break new records
India’s second mission to the moon will use these 14 high-tech instruments to look for water
India's Chandrayaan 2 takes the lead ahead of America, Russia, and China as the first of many missions to the Moon's South Pole