Ahead of Chandrayaan-3's landing on moon on August 23 at 6:04 pm, Space Applications Centre-ISRO, Ahmedabad Director Nilesh M Desai has said that the landing of the Chandrayaan-3 will be postponed to August 27 if factors regarding the lander module appear to be not favourable on August 23.

"On August 23, two hours before Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon, we will take a decision on whether or not it will be appropriate to land it at that time based on the health of the lander module and the conditions on the Moon. In case, if any factor appears to be not favourable, then we will land the module on the Moon on August 27. No problem should occur and we will be able to land the module on August 23," the ISRO scientist said.

Earlier today, ISRO said a two-way communication between the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and Chandrayaan-3's lander module has been established. 

"'Welcome, buddy!' Ch-2 orbiter formally welcomed Ch-3 LM. Two-way communication between the two is established," ISRO said.

The Chandrayaan-2 mission launched on July 22, 2019 consisted of an Orbiter, Lander and Rover to explore the unexplored south pole of the Moon.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr S Somnath has said no contingencies are expected on Wednesday. Somnath made the statement during his meeting with Union Minister Jitendra Singh in New Delhi in which he apprised the senior minister about the status and readiness of Chandrayaan-3 for the moon landing scheduled on 23 August.

“All systems are working perfectly and no contingencies are anticipated on Wednesday," the ISRO chief told Singh. 

“In the next two days, the health of Chandrayaan-3 will be continuously monitored. The final sequence of landing will be loaded two days ahead and tested out," he said.

If Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on the moon, India will become the fourth nation to land on the moon, following the former USSR, the United States and China.

(With inouts from News18)