Chandrayaan 2 launch: ISRO successfully injects rocket into orbit, moon landing scheduled for 7 September

[caption id=“attachment_7038871” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] On Monday afternoon, India successfully launched its second moon mission Chandrayaan 2 onboard its most powerful rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkIII-M1). They plan to land a rover and lander on the moon, on 7 September, to explore the lunar south pole. ISRO[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7038901” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Carrying a “billion dreams” in a giant leap for the country, Chandrayaan 2 is an ambitious low-cost space programme and is the most complex and prestigious mission undertaken by ISRO. ISRO[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7038931” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] The GSLV-MkIII-M1, dubbed ‘Baahubali’, lifted-off from the second launch pad at the spaceport into cloudy skies at 2.43 pm and successfully placed the 3,850-kg Chandrayaan 2 into the Earth’s orbit around 16 minutes later. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7039601” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] After the Chandrayaan 2 composite module successfully separated from the GSLV Mk-III rocket, the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network at Bengaluru took control of the spacecraft. DD[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7040261” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] The Rs 978-crore unmanned mission also brought woman power to the fore as it was helmed by two woman scientists of the ISRO — Ritu Karidhal and M Vanitha, the Mission and Project directors respectively. DD[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7039581” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] “It is the beginning of a historical journey of India towards the moon,” ISRO Chairman K Sivan said at a press conference. ScreenGrab from YouTube[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7039031” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] ISRO is aiming for a soft landing of the lander in the South Pole region of the moon where no country has gone so far. If all goes well, India will be a part of the three countries to have landed on the moon — the US, China and Soviet Russia. ISRO[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7039121” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] From here onwards, the mission will undergo a series of orbit-raising manoeuvres to carry out different phases of the mission over the next 48 days. Reuters[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7039611” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Scientists led by Sivan watched the launch sequence in rapt attention and broke into applause after every key stage of the rocket’s flight which progressed precisely as programmed. Screengrab from DD[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_7039051” align=“alignnone” width=“940”] Anxiety gave way to unbridled joy for thousands of space enthusiasts gathered at the 7,500 seat gallery set by ISRO to watch the launch. The gallery was set up by the ISRO to witness the rocket launch, was full, with those registering last week for the 15 July launch, rebooking their seats. PTI[/caption]