New Delhi: Space enthusiasts in India can now sign up to watch live the launch of the much-awaited Chandrayaan 2 mission. Online registrations to view the event will start from Wednesday midnight, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced.
ISRO spokesperson Guru Prasad said the registration link would be available on the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) website.
The space agency is set to launch the mission aboard India’s biggest indigenous Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-MkIII (GSLV Mk-III) rocket at 2.15 am on 15 July from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
“Online registration process for witnessing the forthcoming GSLV MKIII-M1 / Chandrayaan-2 mission will commence @ 00:00 hrs on July 4th 2019,” ISRO tweeted.
?? #ISROMissions ??#Chandrayaan2#GSLV
Online registration process for witnessing the forthcoming GSLV MKIII-M1 / Chandrayaan-2 mission will commence @ 00:00 hrs on July 4th 2019
— ISRO (@isro) July 2, 2019
The public can watch the event from the Launch Viewing Gallery, a stadium with a seating capacity of 5,000 inaugurated in March this year. The gallery provides a clear view of the space agency’s two launch pads, according to an ISRO statement.
The facility will give visitors a live view as India’s second lunar mission takes off. Large screens will also be placed at the stadium to visually explain the various intricacies of the launcher and the satellites.
The arrangements are part of the first phase of ISRO’s public outreach efforts to spread awareness about the benefits of space technology.
Also read: As the race for Moon heats up, Chandrayaan-2 could give ISRO an edge, and spoils
The Chandrayaan 2 mission
The Chandrayaan 2 mission will be “most complex mission” so far, ISRO chairman K. Sivan had earlier said. Comprising three components — an orbiter, a lander, and a rover — the mission will explore the South Pole of the Moon for the first time.
Last month, the Vikram lander, assembled with the Pragyan rover, was successfully integrated with the orbiter. The Spacecraft’s integration with the GSLV Mk-III rocket is now in progress.
For the mission to be successful, Chandrayaan 2 will have to overcome many challenges on its way to Earth’s only natural satellite. The spacecraft has to cover a distance of over 3.8 lakh kilometres, with its trajectory being influenced by the gravitational forces of various cosmic bodies.
The mission will then have to perform a series of critical manoeuvres to insert itself into the lunar orbit. Once the orbiter enters into orbit around the moon, it will release the lander. The most challenging part of the mission is the successful touchdown of the lander.
The lander is expected to make a soft landing on the lunar surface by September 6-7. Upon its successful landing, Vikram will release Pragyan, which can move on the lunar surface for 500 m.
The lander and the rover are expected to function for 14 Earth days before frying up due to intense radiation from the Sun. The orbiter is equipped to function for at least a year.
Also read: Why Chandrayaan-2 is ISRO’s ‘most complex mission’ so far