ISRO looking at July 21-22 for the relaunch of Chandrayaan-2

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is looking at a relaunch for Chandrayaan-2 as early as Sunday afternoon July 21 or the early hours of July 22, Monday. The space agency has two tentative schedules. Isro is yet to commit to this officially, and an announcement may be pending. The Isro had to postpone the launch of Chandrayaan-2 on July 15 following the detection of the last-minute leak in the cryogenic stage of the GSLV-MkIII.

Sources that are aware of the ongoing rectification process has told that the new release date could arrive as early as Wednesday and that the launch could be scheduled for July 21.

According to sources: "First we thought it could be early July 22 morning, similar time as the July 15 schedule. Now that has been reconfigured even to be launch sometime Sunday afternoon."

While ISRO did not commit anything officially on this, an announcement may be pending. A senior scientist from Isro's rocket confirmed that the space agency is "hopeful" of the launch by Monday.

"That is what we hear from teams at the spaceport. It's either Sunday or Monday," another source said.

"That's what we hear from the teams at the spaceport, it's Sunday or Monday," said another source.

As per scientists, if we miss the July 31 window would affect the programme, as it would need more fuel to achieve the desired destinations. "It could even bring down the life of the orbiter to six months from the current one year around Moon," a source had said.

Also, in an indication of Isro's urgency to launch in the July window, a fresh NOTAM (notice to airmen- an alert issued ahead of every launch) has been published on July 15. The alert is valid on July 17 between 2.30am and 3.30am, and for July 18 to 31 between 2 pm and 3.30pm.