Chandrayaan 2: Orbiter will circle moon for a year, clickpictures
Bengaluru,
Sep
07:
While
the
fate
of
Chandrayaan
2
is
still
unknown
after
the
Vikram
Lander
lost
contact,
officials
have
said
that
95
per
cent
of
Chandrayaan
2
is
still
safe.
Reports
while
quoting
ISRO
officials
said
that
95
per
cent
of
the
Chandrayaan
2
is
still
safe.
The
orbiter
will
keep
circling
the
moon
and
also
click
pictures
for
1
year.
The mission life is one year and the Orbiter can take images of the moon and send it to ISRO. Chandrayaan 2 comprises three segments-the Orbiter, Vikram and Pragyan. Vikram separated from the Orbiter on September 2.
A normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 kilometres, ISRO said after the Vikram Lander lost communication with the ground station.
13 minutes after the Vikram began its descent that communication with the Chandrayaan 2 lander was lost. The lander failed to make a smooth soft landing and was unable to bring down its speed to the required level.
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The failure took place 13 minutes after the descent began hoping to reduce its speed from 6,048 km per hour to 7 km per hour. The reduction to 7 kilometres or lower was required for a soft landing.
ISRO said a while ago in a tweet, " this is a mission control centre. Vikram Lander descent was as planned and normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 kilometres. Subsequently, communication from lander to the ground stations was lost. Data is being analysed."
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi who was present at the ISRO centre was briefed by Sivan. Prior to this consultations were held.
The
moon
lander,
Vikram
was
separated
from
its
orbiting
mothership.
It
performed
a
series
of
manoeuvres
to
lower
its
altitude
for
a
touchdown
between
1.30
am
and
2.30
am.
ISRO
had
termed
this
operation
as
tricky
and
even
called
it
15
minutes
of
terror.
All
around
2.1
kilometres
from
the
surface,
contact
was
lost.
The
data
was
being
analysed,
scientists
at
ISRO
said.
In a tweet, Modi said, "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.