CHENNAI, Sept 17: The Indian Space Agency would be using the extended version of its workhorse launch vehicle PSLV for the prestigious Mars Mission which was expected to take place between the end of October and middle of November, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR Director Dr M Y S Prasad said today.
Works were progressing in right earnest at the SHAR Range in Sriharikota and the PSLV-XL, which was used for the prestigious chandrayaan-1 mission in 2010, would lift off from the First launch pad between 1500 hrs and 1600 hrs.
The assembling of the first stage of the PSLV-C25 and the strapons were completed. “By September 25, assembling of the second stage will be completed’, he said.
Once launched from Sriharikota, the spacecraft would go around the earth for 20-25 days before embarking on a nine to ten month voyage to Mars. The minimum life of the spacecraft around Mars is six months but it would certainly outlive it, as similar satellites orbited by other countries have sometimes lasted six-seven years.
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel