New Delhi: Chandrayaan-3, India’s mission to Moon, is likely to be launched in early 2021, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.
However, unlike Chandrayaan-2, it will not have an orbiter, but will include a lander and a rover, he added.
After the hard landing of Chandrayaan-2 in September last year, space agency ISRO had planned another mission to the Moon later this year.
However, the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown have hit several of ISRO’s projects and delayed missions like Chandrayaan-3.
As for Chandrayaan-3, the launch may now take place somewhere in early 2021. Chandrayaan-3 will be a mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2 and will include a Lander and Rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2, but will not have an orbiter, a statement quoting Singh said.
Planned to land on the South Pole of the Moon, Chandrayaan-2 was launched on July 22 last year. However, the lander Vikram hard-landed on September 7, crashing India’s dream to become the first nation to successfully touch down on the lunar surface in its maiden attempt. The orbiter of the mission is working fine and has been sending data.
Meanwhile, preparations are going on for India’s first-ever Human Space mission Gaganyaan, he added. The training processes and other procedures are also in place. (PTI)
