India's ambitious moon mission Chandrayaan-3, the follow-up to the second lunar mission, is all set for a scheduled launch on Friday at 2.35 pm. Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is aiming for a soft landing of the Chandrayaan 3 mission on the surface of the moon by late August and a successful landing would make India only the fourth country to achieve the feat after the United States, China and erstwhile USSR.

The 25.30 hour countdown for the lift-off commenced at 1.05 pm on Thursday and was ‘progressing’ for the scheduled launch.

"LVM3 M4/Chandrayaan-3 Mission: The countdown is progressing at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.", Isro said, in an update about the mission on Friday.