Chandrayaan: Oct 19 launch likely, weather permitting
19 Sep 2008 04:45:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday, unveiled India’s first mission to the moon Chandrayaan- 1.The Chandrayaan-1 satellite will be launched by a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.However, ISRO officials did not confirm the date of the launch, but hinted that Chandrayaan-1 could lift off on October 19 if weather permitting.
‘’The launch window could be between October 19 and October 28. But, we are slightly worried about the weather conditions due to disturbances in the East Coast. In case we are not able to launch the satellite during this period then we have two more opportunities, one in early November and the other by the end of November,’’ Chandrayaan- 1 project director M Annadurai told reporters.
The 590-kg spacecraft, which will carry 11 payloads, has been delayed by over five months but ISRO Officials said that the launch would take place well within the project time frame and that the delay would not overshoot the project cost of Rs 386 crore.
Chandrayaan-1 will carry payloads of six foreign countries __ the US, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Bulgaria __ apart from those of India.‘‘The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft along with all 11 science instruments has been fully assembled, integrated and tested.
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