As the nation waited with bated breath, India’s Chandrayaan 2 mission edged closer to the Moon’s surface in a bid to script history. After being sent into space from ISRO’s launch pad in Sriharikota on July 22, India’s most ambitious deep-space mission to date traveled 3,84,400kms, before eventually being undone merely 2.1kms from the lunar surface.
According to ISRO, the Vikram lander had successfully completed the rough braking phase after descending on to the Moon’s surface. It then started off its fine braking procedure and as ISRO awaited final confirmation of the fine braking procedure, we were informed shortly after that ISRO has indeed lost communication with the Vikram Lander.
As per the space agency, ISRO was trying to establish contact with Vikram Lander during the final phase of descent on the lunar surface. Crucially, this happened just when ISRO started plans for the absolute navigation — when the lander would reach around 400 meters above the landing site to commence vertical landing procedure.
However, at an altitude of 2.1km, Vikram lander went dark and all data communications were lost. Although ISRO canceled a press conference it had to hold after the mission’s unexpected end, it did, however, explain what had transpired.
As such, there is no concrete information about the fate of the Vikram lander. However, considering that the signal from the equipment has gone dark, it is quite possible that we may have lost it to the most crucial and difficult phase of the mission — something that was also described by K Sivan as “the 15 minutes of terror” a while ago.
While many of us are still trying to understand what had transpired, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi did leave the scientists and the nation with some words of optimism.
Addressing the scientists after the link with Chandrayaan-2 lander was snapped, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Nation is proud of you, be courageous.” Congratulating team Chandrayaan 2 on their achievement, In every accomplishment “There are ups and downs in life. This is not a small achievement. The nation is proud of you. Hope for the best. We congratulate all of you. You all have done a big service for our nation, science, and mankind. All Indians are with you all the way, move forward bravely.”All the best ISRO.All Indians Proud were of Indian Scientist.