32 Missions, Including Chandrayaan-2, Planned For 2019: ISRO

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Priyadarshinee N
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India has planned 32 missions, including the "most complex" Chandrayaan-2 during 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation has said.

India's maiden human spaceflight programme 'Gaganyaan' activities would go full steam to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones during the year, the space agency said.

"The year 2019 promises to be much more challenging to the ISRO community with 32 planned missions (14 launch vehicles, 17 satellites and 1 Tech demo missions)," ISRO Chairman K Sivan said in a New Year message.

"This includes the most complex Chandrayaan-2, which will be the 25th mission from SLP (second launch pad), and the development flights of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)," he said.

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ISRO had earlier said Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in a window from January-February 16, 2019.

Sources said it is expected by the middle of next month but no date has been finalised.

"We are all trying hard. Definitely, it should be possible to launch the mission in February," a senior ISRO official told.

"There is no impediment. It's on track," the official said.

Chandrayaan-2 mission, costing nearly Rs 800 crore, is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago.

This spacecraft to be launched on board GSLV-Mk III is a totally indigenous mission, comprising an Orbiter, Lander and Rover.

Sivan said during the year, Gaganyaan activities would go "full steam" to accomplish the various development and qualification milestones.

The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the Rs 9,023-crore programme last Friday.

The objective of the mission is to carry a three-member crew to low earth orbit and return them safely to a predefined destination on earth.

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