Live coverage: Mission control loses contact with Indian moon lander

The most powerful rocket ever built by India, boosted by two solid-fueled strap-on motors, a twin-engine core and a cryogenic upper stage, lifted off Monday to prove it can haul satellites into orbit nearly twice as heavy as India’s existing launchers. Launch occurred at 1158 GMT (7:58 a.m. EDT).

Engineers have spotted two small breaks in the treading on the left middle wheel on NASA’s Curiosity rover, one of six wheels that have moved the robot nearly 10 miles across the Martian surface since landing in August 2012.

A week after a technical problem on the GSLV Mk.3 rocket thwarted a previous launch attempt, India’s Chandrayaan 2 lunar orbiter, lander and rover climbed into space at 0913 GMT (5:13 a.m. EDT) Monday.