Hyderabad, Jul 22 (Only Kashmir): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched its second-ever mission to the Moon, and hopes with it to join a handful of countries that have landed on the lunar surface. The aim is to improve understanding of the Moon and make discoveries that will benefit humanity.
At 2.43 P.M. local time, July 22 India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission launch on top of the country’s most powerful rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission is scheduled to enter orbit 30 days after launching, with the lander’s four-day descent to the surface (carrying the rover with it) beginning in early September. It will then use its landing legs to touch down at the Moon’s south pole on September 6 or 7 – the closest visit by a mission to this region.
Pertinently, the launch of Chandrayaan-2 had originally been scheduled for July 15, but was delayed by a week due to a leak on the rocket. The mission is the successor to the Chandrayaan-1 mission, which launched in 2008 and, while it did not land on the surface, performed a detailed hunt for lunar water.
Special moments that will be etched in the annals of our glorious history!
The launch of #Chandrayaan2 illustrates the prowess of our scientists and the determination of 130 crore Indians to scale new frontiers of science.
Every Indian is immensely proud today! pic.twitter.com/v1ETFneij0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 22, 2019
