After a week's delay, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The GSLV Mark 3 - ISRO's largest and most powerful rocket - is 44 metres long or as tall as a 15-storey building. The launcher of Chandrayaan-2 has been nicknamed ‘Bahubali’.

The white coloured rocket with Indian flag painted on it slowly gained speed a few metres after the lift off, and soared into the clear sky. The rocket is set to cover 3.84 lakh km from Earth in last less than 50 days before the lander and rover soft landing on the moon on September 6/7.

Minutes later, the rocket successfully put Chandrayaan 2 into Earth's orbit - and a booming applause reverberated inside the control room as the scientists who have been working hard for the mission congratulated one another.

"I am extremely happy to announce that GSLV Mark 3 successfully injected the Chandrayaan 2 into orbit... It is the beginning of a historical journey for India... We fixed a serious technical snag and ISRO bounced back with flying colours," ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, drawing loud applause from the scientists gathered around him at the control centre.

The success of Chandrayaan 2 mission will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to pull off a soft landing on the moon.

After a week's delay, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The GSLV Mark 3 - ISRO's largest and most powerful rocket - is 44 metres long or as tall as a 15-storey building. The launcher of Chandrayaan-2 has been nicknamed ‘Bahubali’.

The white coloured rocket with Indian flag painted on it slowly gained speed a few metres after the lift off, and soared into the clear sky. The rocket is set to cover 3.84 lakh km from Earth in last less than 50 days before the lander and rover soft landing on the moon on September 6/7.

Minutes later, the rocket successfully put Chandrayaan 2 into Earth's orbit - and a booming applause reverberated inside the control room as the scientists who have been working hard for the mission congratulated one another.

"I am extremely happy to announce that GSLV Mark 3 successfully injected the Chandrayaan 2 into orbit... It is the beginning of a historical journey for India... We fixed a serious technical snag and ISRO bounced back with flying colours," ISRO Chairman K Sivan said, drawing loud applause from the scientists gathered around him at the control centre.

The success of Chandrayaan 2 mission will make India the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to pull off a soft landing on the moon.