The launch of India’s second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2 was halted less than an hour before the scheduled blast-off, due to a technical issues.
The countdown stopped 56 minutes before the launch after a “technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system,” India’s space agency, ISRO said.
A technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system at 1 hour before the launch. As a measure of abundant precaution, #Chandrayaan2 launch has been called off for today. Revised launch date will be announced later.
— ISRO (@isro) July 14, 2019
ISRO’s public relations officer, Guruprasad said, “India’s second mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLVMkIII-M1 has been called off due to a technical snag. A technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system at T-56 minute. As a measure of abundant precaution, Chandrayaan-2 launch has been called off for today.”
Adding that a “revised launch date will be announced later.”
India’s second lunar spacecraft was to be launched onboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk-III from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh at 2:51 am.
The blast off of the three-component spacecraft weighed 3,850 kg and comprised an orbiter, the lander and the rover.
When launched, Chandrayaan-2 will be the first Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface. This mission will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to carry out a soft landing on the Moon.