Indian Government News, The launch of the latest communication satellite INSAT-4CR on board the homegrown Geosynchronous Satellite Launch vehicle has been postponed by a day to 2nd September following adverse weather conditions, a top space department official said.
Secretary in the Department of Space G Madhavan Nair told the news agency on Wednesday that because of severe thunderstorms during night-time in the last few days, Indian Space Research Organisation lost about 14 hours of pre-launch activity.
“We had to stop the activity during that period. So, the launch will not happen on September one. We expect the launch to take place on September two,” Nair, also ISRO Chairman, said.
He said the spacecraft has already been integrated with the GSLV, which has been moved to the launch pad at the Indian spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
“Final phase of check-out is going on. So, now what's left is launch rehearsal and final mission clearance and then we will go for the launch,” Nair said.
The 2,130-kg INSAT-4CR is similar to INSAT-4C which was lost following the unsuccessful launch of GSLV last year.
Meanwhile, ISRO officials remained non-committal on the launch date of Israeli satellite, Polaris on board India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
A senior ISRO official said “we have not decided yet (on the launch date of Polaris). Some clarity is yet to emerge on some of the technical points. Some discussions are still going on. We have not decided on the date.”
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