Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India): The communication with Vikram lander was lost moments before its planned landing on the far side of the lunar surface. Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO) chairman K Sivan announced
that communication with Vikram
lander was lost at 2.1 km from
Lunar surface.
"Vikram lander descend was normal
and as planned till 2.1 km. Subsequently, communication with Vikram lander was lost. Data is being analyzed" -Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Chairman K Sivan announced. In its last tweet at 1:49 am, ISRO which was giving updates about the missions announced, "Rough breaking of #VikramLander ends and Fine braking phase starts. #Chandrayaan2 #ISR0"
The Vikram Lander successfully
separated from Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 2. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in its existing orbit. The Vikram lander was planned to land on the far side of the moon between 1:30 am to 2:30 am on the
intervening night of Frid ay-Saturday.
This would have been followed by
rover (Pragyan) roll-out between
5:30 am to 6:30 am.
After revolving around the Earth's
orbit for nearly 23 days, the craft
began its journey to the moon on
August 14.
The mission took off from the
Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Sriharikota on July 22.
India's second mission to the moon
was approved by the cabinet in
September 2008, just before the
launch of Chandrayaan 1.
(ANI)