Landing of Chandrayaan-2 under suspense after all communications with lander Vikram lost
First Published: 7th September, 2019 16:26 IST
In a huge disappointment, ISRO lost all communications with the Lander Vikram of Chandrayaan-2, minutes before touchdown while the nation eagerly awaited its soft landing on the hitherto unexplored lunar
In a huge disappointment, ISRO lost all communications with the Lander Vikram of Chandrayaan-2, minutes before touchdown while the nation eagerly awaited its soft landing on the hitherto unexplored lunar South Pole in the wee hours of Saturday.
Communication lost with #VikramLander at 2.1 km from Lunar surface, data being analysed, says ISRO Chief K Sivan.#Chandrayaan2Landing pic.twitter.com/knx4h0yWK5
— Northeast Live (@NELiveTV) September 6, 2019
As the powered descent of the lander began at around 1:38 am, scientists at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network were glued to their terminals in anxiety.
#Chandrayaan2Landing | Delay in touchdown; #ISRO awaits signal from #VikramLander. pic.twitter.com/EdPh7uoJam
— Northeast Live (@NELiveTV) September 6, 2019
As the lander began the 15 minute autonomous descent, the time period the chairman of ISRO K Sivan referred to as 15 terrifying minutes, it passed a major hurdle called the ‘rough braking phase’, which is the descent from a height of 30 km to around 2.1 km before the ‘fine braking phase’ started. Soon after, the lander suddenly lost all contact with the ground station.
Faces started turning pale as the scientists got into a huddle. ISRO Chairman K Sivan was seen engaged in intense discussions with fellow project engineers.
Vikram Lander minutes away from touching the lunar surface.
Rough breaking of #VikramLander ends and fine braking phase starts.#Chandrayaan2Landing pic.twitter.com/H6EYangkQi— Northeast Live (@NELiveTV) September 6, 2019
#Chandrayaan2Landing | Scientists at #ISRO monitor, as #VikramLander begins its descent on the south pole of the moon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also present.(ANI) pic.twitter.com/Rpznb7xfzD
— Northeast Live (@NELiveTV) September 6, 2019
Soon after, the ISRO Chief announced that the descent of the lander was as planned and normal performance was observed up to altitude of 2.1 km. But subsequently, communications between the lander and ground station was lost, he said, adding that the data was being analyzed.
The status of Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram Lander will be known definitively only when ISRO makes a formal announcement.
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Vishal Kumar, Returning Officer for West Tripura LS seat briefs media
19th April 2024Live Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer briefs media after voting officially ends
19th April 2024Live Lok Sabha Polls: Meghalaya CEO BDR Tiwari briefs media
19th April 2024Live Indefinite shutdown and poll boycott in Eastern Nagaland: ENPO president speaks to Northeast Live
19th April 2024WE RECOMMEND
High turnout in Phase 1 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 despite heat wave
The Commission led by CEC Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu constantly monitored the progress of polling in Phase 1 across the constituencies from ECI Headquarters in Nirvachan Sadan.
19th April 2024Lok Sabha elections 2024 Phase 1: Big faces and high-stakes battles
The candidature of its Tamil Nadu state president shows that the BJP is pressing hard to increase its presence in South India
19th April 2024“You are not innocent”: SC tells Ramdev, he says will remain conscious in future
Co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Ramdev, tendered unconditional apology "for the mistakes", adding that "What we did at the time was not correct. We will be conscious about it in the future."
16th April 2024Need skills to go far beyond Earth’s orbit: ISRO chief Somanath at Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
The ISRO chief also issued a declaration saying that India aims to create debris free space missions by 2030.
16th April 2024Five killed, several injured as bus falls from flyover in Odisha’s Jajpur
Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Shibasish Moharana said that out of 38 injured, one was seriously injured.
16th April 2024