Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission after the massive success of Chandrayaan-1. This significant mission is developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aimed to be launched to the Moon by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III. The set-up includes a lunar orbiter, lander and rover which are all developed domestically.
Chandrayaan-II mission was launched onboard by the Indian space agency ISRO on its most powerful launcher GSLV-Mk III, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota at 2:43 PM on Monday.
India became the fourth country to launch a mission after the US, Russia, and China that would land on the moon and the very first country to land on and explore its south pole region, Chandrayaan-2, was called off from launch just 56 minutes before its scheduled liftoff on July 15 because of a technical snag in the GSLV Mark-III rocket launcher.
In fact, this is India’s second trip to the moon and the first probe, Chandrayaan 1, that was launched in October 2008, made India the first country in the world to complete a successful moon landing in the maiden attempt.
NASA congratulated ISRO
“Congrats to ISRO on the launch of Chandrayaan 2, a mission to study the Moon. We’re proud to support your mission comms using our Deep Space Network and look forward to what you learn about the lunar South pole where we will send astronauts on our Artemis mission in a few years,” NASA tweeted.
Here’s how Global Media reacted to India’s Moon Mission-2
“This would be a huge leap forward for India’s ambitious moon program, and scientists and defence experts everywhere are watching to see whether the country can pull it off,” said a leading website in the US.
It also mentioned the fact that the Indian moon mission has come just a day after the 50th anniversary of the NASA’s Apollo 11 mission that paved the way for American astronauts to land on the moon for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, Russian media showered praises on the Chandrayaan 2 moon mission branding it a historic moment for India. The media also went on to call it as one of the most challenging and complex missions ever and then lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its outstanding efforts in executing the mission in second attempt.
Actually, India wanted to execute the moon mission a couple of years ago as space joint venture with Russia. But, Russia backed out from the moon mission and India took upon the mission all alone without anybody’s help. Though it took some extra time to design, develop and frame the project, it was finally launched on July 22.
Chinese media did not boost too much on the India’s significant moon mission but generally reported the events that happened during the Chandrayaan 2. There were no reactions within the top Chinese leadership as they kept mum over India’s development.
A leading website asserted that the Indian spacecraft carries an orbiter, a lander and a rover which will move around on the lunar surface for 14 earth days. It will take around 47 days to travel and land on the moon in September.
As far as British media is concerned, they congratulated India for implementing one of the most complex space missions ever. “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,” said one of the British news websites.
Coming to Pakistan, though there was not much activity within the Pakistani news channels and websites regarding Indian moon mission, some individual journalists reacted to the successful launch of Chandrayaan 2 and also praised Indian scientists’ efforts.