15 Jul, 02:42 (IST)

The launch of Chandrayaan 2, India's second lunar mission, has been called off after a technical snag, said ISRO. The technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system at T-56 minute after which the mission was called off. The new date for the launch will be announced later.

15 Jul, 02:27 (IST)

The countdown for the launch of Chandrayaan 2, India's second lunar mission, has been put on hold for now, reports said. We are yet to receive an official confirmation from ISRO.

15 Jul, 02:09 (IST)

Now, just an hour to go for the launch of Chandrayaan 2, India’s second unmanned mission to the Moon. ISRO will start live streaming at 2:30 am. You can watch it here. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), nicknamed 'Bahubali, will launch at 2:51 am.

15 Jul, 01:42 (IST)

Filling of liquid hydrogen in cryogenic stage of 640-tonne rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) completed, tweets ISRO.

15 Jul, 00:58 (IST)

We are less than two hours away from the scheduled launch of Chandrayaan 2, India’s second unmanned mission to the Moon. Stay here for live updates.

15 Jul, 00:23 (IST)

Filling of liquid hydrogen in Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) is underway. Filing of liquid oxygen is done.

15 Jul, 00:12 (IST)

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) is India's most powerful launcher to date, and is capable of launching 4-ton class of satellites to the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

14 Jul, 23:39 (IST)

Less than four hours to go for the launch of Chandrayaan 2, India’s second unmanned mission to the Moon. Stay here for live updates.

14 Jul, 23:13 (IST)

All preparations are in their final stages for India’s second unmanned mission to the Moon, named Chandrayaan 2.

14 Jul, 23:09 (IST)

Filling of liquid oxygen in cryogenic stage of 640-tonne rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) has commenced.

Sriharikota, July 14: Chandrayaan 2, India's second lunar mission, will be sent to space at around 2:51 am on July 15 by the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO. Chandrayaan 2 will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota. The 640-tonne rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), nicknamed the 'Bahubali', will carry the Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft into space. Catch live updates on the launch of Chandrayaan 2 by ISRO here. Watch live streaming of Chandrayaan 2 launch by ISRO.

The 20-hour countdown for early morning lift-off of GSLV-Mk III carrying Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft began at 6:51 am today. The launch date of Chandrayaan 2 was announced by ISRO Kailasavadivoo Sivan in June this year. "The day we are going to land is either September 6 or September 7, that day happens to be the beginning of a lunar day. For one full lunar day, the lander and rover will be functioning and carry out scientific experiments," Sivan had said. Chandrayaan 2 Will Carry NASA's Laser Instruments to Moon: US Space Agency.

About 16-minutes into its flight, the Rs 375 crore GSLV-Mk III rocket is expected to sling the Rs 603 crore Chandrayaan-2 into an Earth parking 170x40400 km orbit. The GSLV-Mk III rocket is nicknamed the 'Bahubali', as like the hero in the successful film lifts a heavy Lingam. It will carry the 3.8-tonne Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft which has three modules namely Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). The lander is named "Vikram" as a tribute to the pioneer of India's space programme and former ISRO chairman Vikram Sarabhai. Chandrayaan-2 New Images: ISRO Releases Photos of Moon Mission A Week Ahead of Launch, Describes Features.

Chandrayaan 2: History and details about India's second moon mission (Photo Credits: IANS)

Integration of Chandrayaan 2 | Behind the scene:

According to ISRO, Orbiter and Lander modules of Chandrayaan 2 will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module. The Rover is housed inside the Lander. Once launched into earthbound orbit, the integrated module will reach the Moon orbit using Orbiter propulsion module. Subsequently, Lander will separate from the Orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to the lunar South Pole, the ISRO said.

Further, the Rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface. Instruments are also mounted on Lander and Orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments, the space agency added. When Chandrayaan 2's rover lands on the Moon, India will become the fifth country in the world to achieve the feat. India launched its maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-1 on October 22, 2008.