A fuel leak is now believed to be the reason as to why India’s landmark Moon mission was halted approximately 56 minutes and 24 seconds before the launch as per latest reports. Initially, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) did not give an explanation for what they termed as a “technical snag” in the rocket. However, a committee of experts was put in place to look into the matter that held back India’s bid to become just the fourth nation after China, Russia and the United States, to land their own spacecraft on the moon.

During the planned launch that was halted, the ISRO said they had decided to call it off as a matter of precaution. However, close sources together with the Times of India have quoted a senior mission scientist who associated the call-off with a leak in the GSLV-MkIII rocket’s fuel component. “After filling helium, we found the pressure was dropping, indicating there was a leak,” the yet to be named scientist said.  On the other hand, the Hindustan Times quoted a senior ISRO official who added “We were lucky that the mission did not enter the automatic launch sequence else all would have been lost.”

Next Launch Window

There is no exact date for the next launch window although the scientists are racing to fix the leak before the end of July if it is to take place as planned.Experts who are looking into the situation have said the mission chiefs would exercise caution about trying a new liftoff. Ravi Gupta, a scientist formerly with the state-run Defense Research and Development Organization said “If the launch does not happen in the next 48 hours, it could be postponed for a few months until we get an opportune launch window.”

Cheapest Crowded Space Race

Chandrayaan is considered to be one of the cheapest crowded space race with the government of India having spent about $140 million.If successful, the launch would have been the third to the moon this year after China’s Chang’e 4 mission on the lunar surface and Israel’s $100 million Beresheet. However, Israel’s Beresheet crash-landed in their quest to become the first privately funded mission to the moon in April.

What the Government Had To Say

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has vowed to ensure the country launches a crewed space mission by 2022.  This comes after their previous low cost Indian mission-Mangalyaan- that ended up putting a spacecraft in orbit around Mars in 2014. The high profile but low cost mission was done at a fraction of the cost when compared to similar projects done by established powers such as the United States.

The first lunar mission by India in 2008 did not end up landing on the moon but instead orbited it in search of water using radar.  However, the future seems to be bright considering the numerous changes that have taken place ever since the first mission was tried by the Indian Space Research Organization.