PM Modi to witness PSLV launch on June 30, countdown delayed by 3 mins
Chennai: In view of space debris getting in the way of the launch vehicle, the countdown for the PSLV-C23 began three minutes late at 8.52 am instead of proposed 8.49 am at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shar, Sriharikota on Saturday. The flight is now rescheduled to take off at 9.52 am on June 30, Monday.
Meanwhile, scientists have started propellant filling operations in the rocket while countdown is in progress on Saturday. Isro chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan examined the countdown at the launch pad along with Shar director Dr M.Y.S. Prasad and PSLV mission director Kunhi Krishnan.
In his first visit to Tamil Nadu after becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will make a brief stopover on Sunday enroute to Sriharikota to witness the launch. Modi has no official engagements in the city even as state BJP sources said they have not planned any function for the leader at the airport so far.
Security has been beefed up at the airport in view of Modi's visit, police said. The Prime Minister's special aircraft from New Delhi is expected to land here at around 3.55 pm after which he is scheduled to reach Sriharikota by a helicopter following a brief stopover here.
Four helicopters have been stationed here for use by the Prime Minister and his entourage, police said. The indigenous PSLV-C23 rocket, carrying satellites of France, Germany, Canada and Singapore, will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Sriharikota.
