Chandrayaan 2 mission was 98 per cent successful, next priority is Gaganyaan: K Sivan
New Delhi, Sep 21: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan on Saturday said the Chandrayaan-2 mission has achieved 98 per cent of its objectives, even as scientists are working hard to establish contact with lander 'Vikram'.
Sivan also said Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is doing well and performing scheduled science experiments.
"Why we are saying Chandrayaan-2 achieved 98 per cent success is because of two objectives -- one is science and the other technology demonstration. In case of technology demonstration, the success percentage was almost full," he told reporters at the airport here, before heading to IIT- Bhubaneswar to attend its 8th convocation ceremony.
Sivan said ISRO is focusing on another moon mission by 2020.
"Discussion is on about the future plan... nothing is finalised. Our priority is on an unmanned mission by next year. First, we have to understand what exactly happened to the lander," he said.
He said a national-level committee comprising academicians and ISRO experts are analysing the cause of the communication loss with 'Vikram'.
"We have not been able to establish communication with the lander yet. As soon as we receive any data, necessary steps will be taken," Sivan said.
Noting
that
the
orbiter
was
initially
planned
for
a
year,
the
ISRO
chief
said
there
is
every
possibility
that
it
will
last
for
another
seven-and-a-half
years
"Orbiter
continues
to
perform
scheduled
science
experiments
to
complete
satisfaction.
There
are
eight
instruments
in
the
orbiter
and
each
instrument
is
doing
exactly
what
it
is
meant
to
do,"
he
added.