<p>Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Thursday offered prayers at Sri Chengalamma Parameswarini temple at Sullurpeta near here in the run-up to the launch of Chandrayaan-3 Mission.</p>.<p>Wearing a black T-shirt, Somnath worshipped at the temple located in Tirupati district, 22 km west of Sriharikota, where the spaceport is located.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/isro-unveils-vital-facilities-for-solid-motor-advancement-1236522.html" target="_blank">ISRO unveils vital facilities for solid motor advancement</a></strong></p>.<p>"I need the blessings of Chengalamma Devi...I came here to pray and seek the blessings for the success of this mission," Somnath told reporters.</p>.<p>Somnath, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission said Chandrayaan-3 will be launched at 2:35 pm on Friday and called the LVM3 rocket big and strong which is on its fourth continuous mission.</p>.<p>"Chandrayaan-3 will start its journey tomorrow. We are hoping that everything goes right and it lands on the moon on August 23," he added.</p>.<p>According to Somnath, the next launch by ISRO will be a commercial satellite by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) likely at the end of July.</p>.<p>He also said the Aditya-L1 mission launch, which is the first space-based Indian mission to study the sun, is likely in August.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/what-is-a-soft-landing-why-is-it-crucial-for-the-chandrayaan-3-mission-1236063.html" target="_blank">What is a 'soft landing'? Why is it crucial for the Chandrayaan-3 mission?</a></strong></p>.<p>Further, the ISRO Chairman said the satellite is currently undergoing tests and in case the results are good the launch will happen as scheduled (August 10) or close to that date.</p>.<p>On the Chandrayaan-1 mission, the ISRO chief said it was a super hit which produced great results and existed for a long time, including finding water on the moon.</p>.<p>Further, he said the Chandrayaan-2 mission confirmed the presence of water, besides generating a lot of science output, except for missing a soft landing.</p>.<p>Somanth highlighted that every launch is a success on many counts, saying that Chandrayaan-3 will be the same.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, Srinivas Reddy, executive officer of Chengalamma temple told <em>PTI </em>that ISRO officials visiting this temple before rocket launches has become a tradition.</p>.<p>"On the eve of every rocket launch before the countdown time starts, they perform puja at Chengalamma temple and then start their launch works," said Reddy.</p>.<p>Also, a team of ISRO scientists visited the Lord Venkateswara temple at nearby Tirumala on Thursday morning in the run-up to the launch of the lunar exploration mission on Friday.</p>.<p>Visuals of the ISRO team, three women and two men, went viral on Thursday morning and a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) official confirmed their visit.</p>.<p>"Yes, an ISRO team has visited Tirumala but our publicity wing did not cover their visit," a TTD official told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>ISRO officials generally make low-profile visits to the temple, the official added.</p>
<p>Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath on Thursday offered prayers at Sri Chengalamma Parameswarini temple at Sullurpeta near here in the run-up to the launch of Chandrayaan-3 Mission.</p>.<p>Wearing a black T-shirt, Somnath worshipped at the temple located in Tirupati district, 22 km west of Sriharikota, where the spaceport is located.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/isro-unveils-vital-facilities-for-solid-motor-advancement-1236522.html" target="_blank">ISRO unveils vital facilities for solid motor advancement</a></strong></p>.<p>"I need the blessings of Chengalamma Devi...I came here to pray and seek the blessings for the success of this mission," Somnath told reporters.</p>.<p>Somnath, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission said Chandrayaan-3 will be launched at 2:35 pm on Friday and called the LVM3 rocket big and strong which is on its fourth continuous mission.</p>.<p>"Chandrayaan-3 will start its journey tomorrow. We are hoping that everything goes right and it lands on the moon on August 23," he added.</p>.<p>According to Somnath, the next launch by ISRO will be a commercial satellite by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) likely at the end of July.</p>.<p>He also said the Aditya-L1 mission launch, which is the first space-based Indian mission to study the sun, is likely in August.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/what-is-a-soft-landing-why-is-it-crucial-for-the-chandrayaan-3-mission-1236063.html" target="_blank">What is a 'soft landing'? Why is it crucial for the Chandrayaan-3 mission?</a></strong></p>.<p>Further, the ISRO Chairman said the satellite is currently undergoing tests and in case the results are good the launch will happen as scheduled (August 10) or close to that date.</p>.<p>On the Chandrayaan-1 mission, the ISRO chief said it was a super hit which produced great results and existed for a long time, including finding water on the moon.</p>.<p>Further, he said the Chandrayaan-2 mission confirmed the presence of water, besides generating a lot of science output, except for missing a soft landing.</p>.<p>Somanth highlighted that every launch is a success on many counts, saying that Chandrayaan-3 will be the same.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, Srinivas Reddy, executive officer of Chengalamma temple told <em>PTI </em>that ISRO officials visiting this temple before rocket launches has become a tradition.</p>.<p>"On the eve of every rocket launch before the countdown time starts, they perform puja at Chengalamma temple and then start their launch works," said Reddy.</p>.<p>Also, a team of ISRO scientists visited the Lord Venkateswara temple at nearby Tirumala on Thursday morning in the run-up to the launch of the lunar exploration mission on Friday.</p>.<p>Visuals of the ISRO team, three women and two men, went viral on Thursday morning and a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) official confirmed their visit.</p>.<p>"Yes, an ISRO team has visited Tirumala but our publicity wing did not cover their visit," a TTD official told <em>PTI</em>.</p>.<p>ISRO officials generally make low-profile visits to the temple, the official added.</p>