India To Delay Mars Orbiter Mission By One Week

India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, scheduled for launch on October 28, has been delayed by one week.

AsianScientist (Oct. 21, 2013) – India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, scheduled for launch on October 28, has been delayed, says Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan.

“Of the two ships Nalanda and Yamuna, only Yamanua has reached Fiji. Nalanda has not reached there. It is expected to reach Fiji only around Oct. 21. So the Mars mission will not happen Oct. 28. As the launch window is between Oct. 28 and Nov. 19, we will decide on the revised date after the ship reaches Fiji,” Radhakrishnan was quoted as saying by IANS.

The ship has terminals to track the rocket, which has a coasting period of around 20 minutes beyond the visibility of existing ground stations. Radhakrishnan said the rocket has been assembled and the satellite integration is on now.

The space agency chief said the delay will be by a week and by October 22, the launch date is expected to be known.

Update: The Mars orbiter mission is set to blast off on November 5, ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan told the press later in the week.

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