Launch of Chandrayaan 2 delayed once again, January launch more likely now

The launch of Chandrayaan 2 – India’s second mission to the moon – has been delayed and the launch may not come before January 2019, as per a top official of The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The launch of Chandrayaan 2 was initially planned in April. Earlier in 2018, ISRO had launched the GSAT-6A, but lost communication with it. The Indian space agency also recalled the launch of GSAT-11 from Kourou, French Guiana, for more technical checks.

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In September 2019, the PSLV-C39 mission failed after the heat shield didn’t open to release the IRNSS-1H navigation satellite in it.

The Indian Space Research Organisation is being extremely cautious now following the major setbacks it has faced in 2018 as Chandrayaan 2 is one of the most crucial launches for the agency.

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Following the Chandrayaan 1 and Mangalyaan, Chandrayaan 2 is ISRO’s first mission to land on any celestial body.

Meanwhile, there are several windows during which the mission could be launched, but it is more likely to be in January.

Chandryaan 2 mission will be ISRO’s first try to land a rover on the moon. Costing nearly Rs 800 crore, Chandrayaan 2 will be made to land near the south pole of the moon, which is yet unexplored.