Chandrayaan-2 glitch has been rectified: Sivan

Term it as sheer coincidence, but it is Dr Sivan again at the helm of affairs at the Indian Space Research  Organisation (ISRO), heading the second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2 that would explore the hitherto unexplored  frontier — Moon’s South Pole — which is all set for take off on Monday afternoon at 2:43 pm from the spaceport of Sriharikota. The launch would be witnessed by nearly 5,000 people who will be accommodated at a viewing gallery, located a few kms from the launch pad, thrown open to the public by the ISRO in May last.

On the eve of launch, ISRO Chairman K Sivan said all preparations were on and the glitch had been rectified. “Whatever technical snag we observed on July 15 has been rectified. The vehicle is in good health... The (pre-launch) rehearsal has been successfully completed,” he told reporters at the Chennai airport on brief a stopover enroute here. After lift-off, the 3,850 kg Chandrayaan-2, comprising an orbiter, lander and rover, will undergo 15 crucial manoeuvres before landing on the Moon, expected by the first week of September, Sivan said.

Scientists would make soft landing of the lander in the South Pole region of the Moon where no country has gone so far, the ISRO chief said.