India just takes its next “giant leap” and successfully launched its second lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan 2― moon craft― today from Sriharikota Space Station.
The launch was initially scheduled for 15th July but was delayed due to a technical snag at the eleventh hour. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief said his agency had “bounced back with flying colors” after the aborted first attempt.
Chandrayaan 2 marks India’s second lunar mission and third outer space mission; Chandrayaan 1 was launched in 2008 and; mission Mangalyaan, Mars orbiter mission in Mar’s orbit since launched in September 2014.
ISRO hopes that Chandrayaan 2 will be the first human spacecraft to reach where no one has ever reached before―lunar south pool. India hopes to become the fourth nation to achieve a soft lunar landing. Only the former Soviet Union, the US, and China have been able to do so.
The mission is also a great feat for supporters of women empowerment as it is the first time in India’s space history that such a large scale mission is headed by two women ― Muthaya Vanitha, the project director, and Ritu Karidhal, the mission director. The team also comprises mostly of women scientists who have worked hard to achieve this milestone.
The mission is the most complex in Indian space history and was made possible due to a team of nearly one thousand scientists, engineers, and other staff. K. Sivan, ISRO Chief, lauded everyone and said in a speech after the launch “It is my duty to salute all the people who have done the work.”
The live launch was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of around 7000, apart from millions of online viewers, at the Sriharikota Space Station, an island off the eastern coast of India.
Muhammad Abdullah Khan has done bachelors in Chemistry from Government College University
Lahore. He is a science enthusiast and loves to read and write about astronomy, cosmology and latest
scientific endeavors.
