Setback As Chandrayaan-2 Launch Is Called Off Due To Technical Issues

Less than an hour before lift off, India’s second mission to Moon, Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLVMkIII-M1 was off due to a technical snag, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

The countdown to the launch scheduled for 2.51 am was stopped 56 minutes and 24 seconds before lift off at 1.55 am following the announcement from the Mission Control Centre.

According to report by PTI, confusion prevailed for several minutes before ISRO came out with an official confirmation about the launch being cancelled.

“A technical snag was observed in the launch vehicle system at t-minus 56 minutes. As a measure of abundant precaution Chandrayaan 2 launch has been called off for today,” ISRO Associate Director (Public Relations), B R Guruprasad said.

“Revised launch date will be announced later,” he added.

Another ISRO official said: “Launch is called off due to technical snag. It is not possible to make the launch within the (launch) window. (A new) launch schedule will be announced later.”

The space agency had earlier scheduled to launch in the first week of January but was moved to July 15.