Chandrayaan 3: ISRO likely to launch lunar mission in 2022

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to launch the Chandrayaan 3 in the third quarter of 2022.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed the new timeline stating that the “work on Chandrayaan 3 is in progress.” He also informed that the delay in the launch is due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, the minister informed – “Work on Chandrayaan 3 involves various processes including finalization of configuration, subsystems realization, integration, spacecraft level detailed testing and a number of special tests to evaluate the system performance on earth.” The minister further said “The realization progress was hampered due to Covid 19 pandemic. However, all works that were possible in work from home mode were taken up even during lockdown periods. Chandrayaan-3 realization resumed after commencement of the unlock period and is in the maturity stage of realization.”

Chandrayaan 3 mission was earlier planned to be launched in 2021. However, the Covid 19 lockdown affected several projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) including the lunar mission. Moreover, the space agency has yet to decide a timeline for the launch.

The mission is critical for ISRO as it will demonstrate the country’s capabilities to make landings for further interplanetary missions.