Country’s first attempt to land on the lunar surface may have gone off-script, however, Chandrayaan-2 mission is not a failure.
Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, with a mission life of one year, remains in operation and it will continue to study the lunar surface from far.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) officials infomred that “Only 5 per cent of the mission has been lost – Vikram the lander and Pragyan the rover.”
“The remaining 95 per cent- the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter- is orbiting the moon successfully,” the official added.
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The official further informed that the orbiter would take several pictures of the moon and send it to the ISRO over the 365 days.
“It can also take picture of the lander and reveal about its status,” reported NDTV quoting an ISRO official.
The official further informed that the rover inside the lander has a lifespan of 14 days only.
Addressing the scientists at ISRO headquarters, PM Narendra Modi lauded their efforts and said, ‘India is with you.”
“You are exceptional professionals who have made an incredible contribution towards the nation’s progress,” he added.
“You will give several more opportunities to smile in the future,” he said.
“There will be a new dawn and a better tomorrow,” the PM said emphasising that India will bounce back and will be successful in the future space missions.
Shortly after addressing the ISRO scientist, as PM Modi was leaving the agency headquarters, the ISRO chairman K Sivan broke down over Vikram’s failed landing.
The PM was quick to hug Sivan and console him.
#WATCH PM Narendra Modi hugged and consoled ISRO Chief K Sivan after he(Sivan) broke down. #Chandrayaan2 pic.twitter.com/R1d0C4LjAh
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2019
The Rs 978-crore Moon mission was launched from the second launch-pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh.
Among those responsible for Chandrayaan-2 successful launch, the role of three scientists from Assam — J N Goswami, Dipak Kumar Das and Hidam Rajeev Singh, are worth mentioning.
Astrophysicist JN Goswami is the chairman of the advisory board for Chandrayaan-2 mission.
Dipak Kumar Das is the director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre.
Hridam Rajeev Singh was a member of the team which produced the Stage I Solid Stage Rocket Boosters for Chandrayaan 2.
Had lander Vikram touched the lunar surface then India would have entered the elite league of nations to have carried out successful moon mission.