Astrologers to astronomers: Oct 22 good day for moon mission launch

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Astrologers to astronomers: Oct 22 good day for moon mission launch

 

Venkatachari Jagannathan

 

Sat, Oct 18 08:59 AM

 

Chennai, Oct 18 (IANS) There are astrologers among the astronomersin the

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) too. They have declared that

the day set for the country's first moon mission, Oct 22,will be

aupicious.

 

Seven years ago, on Oct 22, 2001, ISRO had successfully launched aPolar

Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C3) carrying three satellites -one of its

own and two from overseas.

 

The Indian satellite was the 1,108 kg Technology ExperimentSatellite and

its co-passengers were Bird from Germany weighing 92 kgand the Belgian

satellite Proba that weighed 94 kg.

 

That was the second time ISRO had launched three satellites in

oneflight. The earlier occasion was in 1999 when PSLV-C2 slung

the1,050-kg Indian Remote Sensing satellite IRS P4, DLR-Tubsat (45 kg)

ofGermany and South Korean satellite Kitsat weighing 110 kg.

 

ISRO officials have been making a replica of every rocket they flyand

placing it at the feet of Lord Balaji at the Hindu holy city ofTirupati

a day before every launch. Tirupati is close to the SatishDhawan Space

Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, the launch site.

 

India's lunar mission Chandrayaan will be ISRO's 27th launch and PSLV's

14th flight.