INDIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES LUNAR ORBITER

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000356 STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/EGC, AND SCA/INS STATE FOR STAS STATE PASS TO NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS STATE FOR SCA, OES (STAS FEDOROFF); OES/PDAS/RHARNISH; OES/PCI STEWART; OES/IHB MURPHY; OES/GTHOMPSON STATE FOR EEB/DAVID HENRY PASS TO MAS/DAS/JESTRADA PASS TO MAC/DAS/HVINEYARD PASS TO NSF/MLUECK PASS TO NASA/OER (MCINTOSH/WILLIAMS/KAMM) SLUG TO DOE/DAS/JMIZROCH; DOE/MGINZBERG SLUG TO DOE/ (TCUTLER/GBISCONTI/CGILLESPIE) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA PREL EIND SENV KSCA IN SUBJECT: INDIA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES LUNAR ORBITER REF: NEW DELHI 2641 ¶1. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the Chandrayaan-1 (C-1) lunar orbiter on October 22 at 0622 hours local from its facility on Sriharikota Island in southern Andhra Pradesh, some 90 kilometers north of Chennai. All stages of the launch vehicle appeared to function perfectly, and the satellite reached its initial target altitude approximately 20 minutes after liftoff. C-1 will orbit the earth for the next two weeks, gradually increasing the size of its orbit before maneuvering into a lunar orbit, where it will remain for two years, mapping the moon's surface and conducting other lunar science. ¶2. We witnessed the launch from the control room's viewing gallery, together with Indian dignitaries and representatives of Japan, the U.K., Germany, France, and Denmark. ISRO staff and spectators alike cheered as each stage of the launch took place successfully. Local press hailed the launch and one TV channel labeled it a "historic day for India." SIMKIN