Spectators at ISRO, officials disappointed, but not disheartened

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has allowed public to watch the launch of Chandrayaan-II from the SDSC gallery. More than 7,000 people, including school children, who applied online, had gathered to witness India’s second moon mission.The rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) was scheduled to blast off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 2.51 am on Monday.

The ISRO has asked both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh government transport corporation to arrange more buses from their states to the rocket port. After getting their mode of transport data from those who registered online, necessary parking arrangement has been made in the SDSC complex. “Seven thousand and two hundred people registered online to witness the launch,” a senior official from ISRO told DT Next.

The news about deferred launch first came to reporters gathered in large numbers on the terrace of SDSC centre to witness the launch.

“When the information slowly spread into the gallery where the public was gathered, most of the youngsters were disappointed and curious to know about the technical snag,” an ISRO official said. Soon, those gathered at the gallery started tweeting and shared the “disappointed news about the launch” with their friends and relatives. “A bit disappointed to see it called off. Best wishes to ISRO,” Prakash Nayak tweeted.

“We were there along with a crowd last night at Sriharikota. Disappointed but not down. Have complete faith and confidence in ISRO. We will land on Chandamama”, tweeted Trinetra. Initially, officials from ISRO were tight lipped about the launch postponement. “We too are disappointed. We were expecting to see the successful launch,” an ISRO official deployed in the media room said.