"We will be able to do a soft landing on the moon. The
launch day is July 13, it can go upto 19th," ISRO Chairman S Somnath said
on the launch of Chandrayaan-3 while speaking to ANI.
He said that the launch date would be July 13. However, it
may go up to July 19.
Earlier on June 28, Chairman of the Indian Space Research
Organisation S Somanath revealed that Chandrayaan-3 testing is complete and the
window of opportunity for the launch is aimed between July 12 and 19.
"Currently, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is fully
integrated. We have completed the testing and also mated with the rocket
compartment... Currently, the window of opportunity for launch is between July
12 and 19 and we will take the earliest possible date, maybe the 12th, maybe
the 13th or maybe the 14th. We will announce the exact date after all the tests
are completed," Somanath told ANI.
Earlier in June, he also shared an update on Aditya-L1
Mission which is India's first mission to study the Sun and said ISRO is aiming
for August end as the target for its launch.
The ISRO chief also shared his views on Artemis Accords and
believes that it is an opportunity for Indian industries that are working in
the space sector to work with the US companies.
"We are looking at Artemis Accord as a political engagement
with the US. It is a statement of Intent that when the US is proposing
collaborative work in the space sector, especially the exploration of outer
planets in a very cordial atmosphere between different nations, we agree with
that.
So it has a big statement. We would like to work with the
US, especially on technologies which are high-end and space is one of them. It
will open opportunities for Indian industries who are working in the space
sector to work with the US companies that are equally working in the space
sector," he mentioned.
"So the advancement of electronics, new processors, the
centre takes place in the US and this access to this new technology to the
Indian company is so important for them to innovate and bring up value which
will give an opportunity to market them in the US market. This is precisely the
objective of the US. So we would like to make sure the Indian companies
contribute to the US space program. It's not a great thing now.
So, the earlier the US sees it as an opportunity because
Indian companies have the technological strength today, they have
cost-effectiveness and they have a lower development cycle time which they want
to bank on. So it is the purpose that it is jointly developed this whole accord
signing is for the benefit of the US as well as the benefit of India," he
added.