Communication with Chandrayaan-2’s ‘Vikram’ lander lost at 2.1 km from moon

September 7: When the entire nation was glued to their television sets watching holding their breath the proposed soft landing of Chandrayaan-2s ‘Vikram’ lander on the lunar surface, there was both traces of joy and suspense. The touch-down of ‘Vikram’ lander was scheduled between 1.30 am and 2.30 am on Saturday.

Everything was going on as per the plan of ISRO. The initial parts of the descent, as engines fired to slow it down from orbit, went smoothly. But less than two miles above the surface, the trajectory diverged from the planned path. The mission control room fell silent as communications from the lander were lost.

ISRO Chief K.Sivan has said that the descent of Chandrayaan-2’s ‘Vikram’ lander was normal as they had planned till an altitude of 2.1 kms from the lunar surface after which communication between lander and ground station was lost. “We will now be analysing the data,” Chairman K Sivan told a room full of distraught scientists at the agency’s tracking centre in Bengaluru.

Vikram was to make soft landing on the moon at 1.53 AM and  the rollout of the rover Pragyan was to happen between 5.30 a.m and 6.30 a.m. Many school children from various parts of the country were all eagerly waiting to be a witness of the historic moment in the tracking centre along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Let’s hope for the best,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told those gathered at the ISRO communication centre — scientists, invitees and schoolchildren.

The Chandrayaan-2, which translates as “moon vehicle” in Sanskrit, took off on July 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. Only three countries – the United States, the erstwhile USSR and China – have managed to place a spacecraft on Moon so far.

India is proud of our scientists! They’ve given their best and have always made India proud. These are moments to be courageous, and courageous we will be!

Chairman @isro gave updates on Chandrayaan-2. We remain hopeful and will continue working hard on our space programme.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 6, 2019

India attempted to become the fourth country to land on the moon on Saturday. The partial failure of the Chandrayaan-2 mission — an orbiter remains in operation — would delay the country’s bid to join an elite club of nations that have landed in one piece on the moon’s surface.