Chandrayaan 2: Scientists lost contact with the Chandrayaan 2 Vikram lander at 1.53am in the early hours of Saturday, less than two minutes before it was supposed to make a soft landing on the moon’s surface.
Chandrayaan 2 Vikram lander has been located on the surface of the moon, Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) chief K Sivan said on Sunday.
“The orbiter has clicked a thermal image of the lander. But there is no communication yet. We are trying to establish contact,” Sivan told news agency ANI. He insisted that it would be premature to say anything concrete right now. “It will be communicated soon.”
ISRO is continuing its efforts to restore a link with Chandrayaan-2’s lander ‘Vikram’, but experts say time is running out and the possibility of re-establishing communication looks “less and less probable.”
The Isro chief had said on Saturday that all hope was not lost and scientists are making all attempts to establish contact with the lander of Chandrayaan 2. The Vikram lander has a life span of one lunar day or 14 earth days.
In a statement, Isro had said 90 to 95% of the objectives of the Chandrayaan 2 mission have been achieved. “…will continue to contribute to Lunar science, notwithstanding the loss of communication with the Lander,” the statement added.
Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation K Sivan said on Saturday that the space agency will try to establish a link with the lander for 14 days. After lander Vikram was located on the lunar surface by Chandrayaan-2’s onboard cameras on Sunday, he reiterated that those efforts would continue. A senior official associated with the mission said, “Progressively… as time goes by… it’s difficult(to establish link)”.
Details Of Lander Vikram:
The Lander of Chandrayaan 2 is named Vikram after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the Father of the Indian Space Programme. It is designed to function for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 Earth days. Vikram has the capability to communicate with IDSN at Byalalu near Bangalore, as well as with the Orbiter and Rover. The Lander is designed to execute a soft landing on the lunar surface.
