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| India-Pakistan |
| Indian lunar probe shifted to launch pad, ready for liftoff |
| 2008-10-19 |
| MUMBAI: The 44.4 m tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with the fully integrated moon-bound Chandrayaan spacecraft was shifted to the launch pad in the new secondary launch area at Sriharikota at about 7pm on Friday, ISRO chief spokesperson S Satish said. The much-awaited lift-off, first international lunar mission led by India, is slated for takeoff at 6.20am on October 22. Satish said the vehicle carrying the rocket moved at a snail's pace — a few metres per minute — taking more than an hour to reach the launch pad from the vehicle assembly building. The movement of the vehicle was extremely slow to ensure that everything was intact with the rocket and the mooncraft. "Even though it rained at Sriharikota on Friday evening when the rocket was shifted, it was no cause for concern. Forecast suggests that weather on October 22 will be benign and launch will take place," said Satish. Other space officials have repeatedly said that even if it rains on the morning of October 22, the rocket will lift off. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #2 The movement of the vehicle was extremely slow to ensure that everything was intact with the rocket and the mooncraft. In a better world Complex 39A & 39B would have been equi-distant from the VAB. VROOOOOOOM! VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! CLANK CLANK CLANK! [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ No parachute required for slow down. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-10-19 10:27 |
| #1 Mission overview video clip Photo Gallery of Chandrayaan-1 and PSLV-C11 |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-10-19 08:56 |