The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to launch its second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2 only in October. Further delays cannot be ruled out if systems are not yet in place by then according to media reports.
Earlier, the mission was slated to be launched in April, with ISRO chairman K Sivan stating that the window for the mission launch will be open until November.
An ISRO official said that several tests were yet to be done, adding that further delays cannot be ruled out if systems were still not in place by October.
"We do not want to be in a hurry," he said.
Chandrayaan-2 consists of an orbiter with one-year mission span, a lander and a rover that can operate for 14 to 15 days on the lunar surface. The rocket will be GSLV Mark 2.
On Friday, it was stated the lunar mission was not yet ready for an April lift-off and much still needs to be done. If the mission is launched in October, it will mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first Indian lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, which lifted off on October 22, 2008.
Chandrayaan-2 when launched will set a record. It will be the first lunar mission globally to execute a soft-landing in a particular region of the moon’s south pole, which will be a nailbiting manoeuvre. It will be also be the first mission to have the hyper spectral imager in the infrared region.
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