City
Epaper

Countdown for India's 2nd moon mission remain smooth

By IANS | Published: July 22, 2019 9:04 AM

The countdown for Monday's Rs 978 crore Chandrayaan-2 mission launch that started at 6.43 p.m. on Sunday is progressing smoothly, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

Open in App

The rocket and spacecraft's systems will undergo checks and fueling during the countdown.

The rocket is scheduled to lift off at 2.43 p.m. later.

According to ISRO, fueling of the second stage/engine with unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) has been completed.

The GSLV-Mk III rocket with Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was originally scheduled for flight at 2.51 a.m. on July 15. However, the flight was postponed after a technical snag was detected an hour prior to the rocket lift-off.

The ISRO later rectified the fault in its 44-metre Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III). Weighing about 640-tonne, the GSLV-Mk III rocket is nicknamed 'Bahubali' after the hero of a successful film of the same name.

Just like the protagonist of the film lifted a heavy Lingam in one of its scenes, the rocket will carry the 3.8-tonne Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft.

About 16-minutes into its flight, the Rs 375-crore GSLV-Mk III rocket is expected to sling the Rs 603-crore Chandrayaan-2 into its 170x39,120-km orbit.

ISRO has sent up three GSLV-Mk III rockets so far. The first carried Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment in December 2014. The second and third GSLV-Mk III carried communication satellites GSAT-19 and GSAT-29 in February 2017 and November 2018 respectively.

GSLV-Mk III will also be used for India's manned space mission in 2022.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: isroBahubaliindia
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalSexually Transmitted Diseases: Rising Number of STDs Cases Concern for Increasing Infertility in India, Warn Doctors

InternationalIndia Aiming To Be “Superpower”, While We’re “Begging” To Avoid Bankruptcy: Pakistani Leader of Opposition (Watch Video)

NationalLok Sabha Election 2024: Who Is PM Candidate of I.N.D.I.A Alliance, Asks BJP President J P Nadda

InternationalIndia-Bound Andromeda Star Oil Tanker Hit by Missiles in Red Sea, Say Yemen’s Houthis

BusinessHeatwave Impact: Vegetable Prices to Stay High Until June in India due to Above-Normal Temperatures

National Realted Stories

NationalAMMK leader Dhinakaran asks EC to ensure proper security of EVMs

National'I'm sorry papa', NEET aspirant ends life in Kota; 2nd suicide in 3 days

NationalMP Youth Congress leader questioned in HM Amit Shah doctored video case

NationalCongress tried to block quota for SCs, STs, OBCs since beginning, say experts

NationalNursing student commits suicide at AIIMS hostel