‘It was a tense 30 minutes’: ISRO chief on Chandrayaan-2 entering moon’s orbit

Chandrayaan 2: According to an ISRO official, the monitoring of Chandrayaan-2 was round-the-clock and officials were anxious to see that the spacecraft was on course to the moon.

The insertion of India’s spacecraft to the moon, Chandrayaan-2, into the lunar orbit was a tense 30 minute operation, said ISRO Chairman K. Sivan.

Sriharikota: India’s second Moon mission Chandrayaan-2 lifts off onboard GSLV Mk III-M1 launch vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, Monday, July 22, 2019. (PTI)

“It was tense 30 minute operation. The tension and anxiety kept on building as the clock ticked. It was a great relief and joy when the Chandrayaan-2 was put into the lunar orbit successfully,” Sivan told IANS soon after the crucial operation.

“We are visiting the moon once again,” he added.

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WATCH| Chandrayaan-2 leaves earth’s orbit and begins journey to the moon

India’s first moon mission -- Chandrayaan-1 -- was in 2008.

Around 200 officials were assembled at the ISRO centre.

According to an ISRO official, the monitoring of Chandrayaan-2 was round-the-clock and officials were anxious to see that the spacecraft was on course to the moon.

Queried about the small rocket-Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)- Sivan said the realisation is in progress.

He also said the Gaganyaan -- India’s human space mission -- is also in the process of realisation.

The selection of astronauts is on course.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)