Isro defers Chandrayaan-2 launch

Isro has postponed the launch of the Chandrayaan-2, the country's second mission to the moon, to October this year after experts suggested more tests during a review of the ambitious mission.

"Initially, we had planned an April launch for Chandrayaan-2, but in the review meeting held a few days ago with experts from the across the country, it was decided that more tests are needed before the mission is launched. Hence, the mission cannot be launched in April. We have fixed the launch for October," Isro chief K Sivan told reporters at the Chennai Airport on Friday.

The Chandrayaan-2 satellite would comprise an orbiter, lander and six-wheeled rover which would move around the landing site and instruments on it would send back data that would be useful in analysing the lunar soil.

After reaching the lunar orbit, the Lander housing the rover will separate from the orbiter. After a controlled descent, the lander will soft land on the lunar surface at a specified site and deploy the rover. India launched its first unmanned moon mission in October, 2008.

The Isro chief also said communication satellite GSAT-6 on-board GSLV-F08 will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, 105 km from here, on March 29. The satellite will be launched at 4.56 pm on Thursday next.

The GSAT-6, which will have a lifespan of nearly 10 years, will be put into orbit by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F08), Isro said, adding that the latest satellite will be similar to GSAT-6.

The new satellite would provide a platform for developing technologies like demonstration of 6m S-Band Unfurlable Antenna, hand-held ground terminals and network management techniques. These are useful in satellite-based mobile communication applications.