ISRO has rescheduled the launch of its first test flight for the Gaganyaan mission at 10am today, after the initial launch at 8.45am was put on hold following a technical issue.
The launch was put on hold five seconds before the lift-off as the engine ignition did not happen. "Reason for the launch hold identified and corrected. The launch is planned at 10:00 Hrs. today," the ISRO posted on X.
The single-stage liquid propulsion rocket, equipped with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System, was scheduled to lift off at 8am, but the launch was first deferred to 8.30am and then to 8.45am, due to unfavourable weather.
ISRO chairman S. Somanath said that the engine ignition did not happen and hence the lift off was put on hold. “The lift-off attempt could not happen today. It was initially scheduled at 8am. It was postponed to 8.45am due to the weather situation.”
“We had a very smooth automatic launch sequence leading up to the command to lift-off. But engine lift-off did not happen. We have to find out what went wrong,” Somanath said.
“The vehicle is safe. We will come back soon after analysing what triggered the hold on the vehicle. The ground checkout computer withheld the launch after observing an anomaly.”
He said the new date for the launch will be announced after studying the technical issue.
The single-stage liquid propulsion rocket, equipped with a Crew Module and Crew Escape System, was set to study the safety of the system in bringing astronauts back to Earth in the Gaganyaan mission.
The mission aims to send humans into space on a Low Earth Orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bring them safely back to Earth in 2025.
