top of page
Moving People

News

India launches second Moon mission

  • BBC News
  • Jul 22, 2019
  • 1 min read

India has successfully launched its second lunar mission a week after it halted the scheduled blast-off due to a technical snag.

Chandrayaan-2 was launched at 14:43 local time (09:13 GMT) from the Sriharikota space station.

India's space chief said his agency had "bounced back with flying colours" after the aborted first attempt.

India hopes the $145m (£116m) mission will be the first to land on the Moon's south pole.

The spacecraft has entered the Earth's orbit, where it will stay for 23 days before it begins a series of manoeuvres that will take it into lunar orbit.

If successful, India will become the fourth country to make a soft landing on the Moon's surface. Only the former Soviet Union, the US and China have been able to do so.

The lift-off was broadcast live on TV and the space agency's official social media accounts.

There was applause in the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) control room minutes after the launch, as the rocket took off towards the outer atmosphere.

For the first time in India's space history, an interplanetary expedition is being led by two women - Muthaya Vanitha, the project director, and Ritu Karidhal, the mission director.

It is the most complex mission ever attempted by India's space agency.

"It is the beginning of a historical journey of India towards the moon," said Isro chief K Sivan in a speech after the launch.

He thanked and congratulated the nearly 1,000 scientists, engineers and other staff who had worked on the mission: "It is my duty to salute all the people who have done the work."


Comments


construction-image1.jpg

Subscribe and keep up to date with all the latest news from Oakmark

Subtle Shapes Transparent
WEST AFRICA'S NO.1 ECONOMIC AGENTS

Oakmark Global Vision provides a bespoke business package to established corporate bodies, investors, and entrepreneurs who desire to enter the West & Pan African market. Find out more >

© 2025 Oakmark Global Vision Ltd - All Rights Reserved.

UK Company No. 07634879 / Nigeria Company No. RC 1288232

Regional Office

International Office

1 Kandi Close, Off Aminu Kano

Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja F.C.T

Nigeria 

+234 -(0)- 929 207 02

+234 (0) 704 497 6500

info@oakmarkglobalvision.com

King Court, 17 School Road

Hall Green, Birmingham

United Kingdom  B28, 8JG

+44 (0) 121 244 1814

+44 (0) 746 625 2505

info@oakmarkglobalvision.com

 Oakmark Global Vision Limited

bottom of page