Article Posted on : - Oct 15, 2008

Last minute preparations are underway for India's first moon mission

CHENNAI (BNS): The Chandrayaan-I spacecraft has been moved to the vehicle assembly building (VAB) of the second launch pad in Sriharikota as hectic preparations continue for India�s October 22 date with space history.

The spacecraft was moved to the VAB on the midnight of October 13/14, according to officials of the Indian Space Research Organisation. M Annadurai, project director of Chandrayaan-I says, �The spacecraft is being assembled on top of the vehicle now.� Initial tests to ensure connectivity between the spacecraft and various ground controls are underway, he said.

The spacecraft is being mounted on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C11), which stands at the 83-meter tall VAB. Annadurai said there were no issues and �if the weather permits the launch will take place on October 22.�

ISRO officials said the 52-hour final countdown to the October 22 launch will start at 4 am on October 20.