Launch rehearsal for moon mission begins ahead of countdown

As the countdown for the Chandrayaan-I — India's ambitious moon mission, is set to begin Monday, ISRO scientists began launch rehearsal exercises at the Sriharikota spaceport as part of preparatory drill for the blast off.

“The fully integrated launch vehicle has been moved out of the vehicle assembly building and anchored into the umbilical tower,” ISRO spokesperson S Satish said at Bangalore on Saturday. A 52-hour countdown for the mission is expected to commence in the early hours of October 20.