Whether it crash-landed or the communication link got cut, the fate and the status of India’s moon lander Vikram is still not known. However, ISRO believes that all is not lost as far as the Rs 978 crore Chandrayaan-2 mission is concerned.
“Only 5 per cent of the mission has been lost - Vikram the lander and Pragyan the rover - while the remaining 95 per cent - that is the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter - is orbiting the moon successfully,” an official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who did not want to be identified told news agency IANS.
Tension on the faces of scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the visitors were clearly visible as ISRO was understandable after the control centre in Bengaluru lost contact with Vikram lander.
From losing control, panic amongst the countrymen to showers of praise for Indian space agency and its efforts, here's all that happened last night at ISRO's control centre in Bengaluru:
Chandrayaan-2's Vikram Lander was progressing on its planed trajectory and it 1.37 am, Isro tweeted has lander Vikram has started its powered descent, the first phase of which was rough braking. However, the lander successfully completed the rough braking and everyone clapped in jubilation.
At 1.49 am, Isro tweeted Vikram lander entered the second phase of powered descent and that rough braking has ended and fine braking started. But it is in this phase that Vikram lost contact with Isro's control centre.
After proper observation and little wait, ISRO chief discussed the issue with other scientists and informed PM Modi, was keenly tracking the progress from the ISRO control room itself. Later, Sivan made the announcement of the same for media.
"Vikram Lander descent was as planned and normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km. Subsequently, communication from the lander to ground stations was lost," Isro chief K Sivan said, adding that the data is being analysed.
After a wait of few minutes, PM Modi went to the scientists and boosted their morale. In his brief message to the brave team of ISRO scientists, PM Modi said: "I see disappointment on your faces. There is no need to get dejected. We have learnt a lot. These are moments to be courageous, and courageous we will be. We remain hopeful and will continue working hard on our space programme."
At 3.59 am, ISRO informed in a tweet that PM Modi will address the nation at 8 am from ISRO's control centre.
What now?
The hope are still alive at Bengaluru control room - minimal but enough to put in all efforts to bring things back on track. With a mission life of one year, the Orbiter moving around moon can take several pictures of it and send it to the ISRO. The Orbiter can also take pictures of the lander to know its status, the space agency official said.
What Vikram lander was supposed to do?
Named after father of Indian space programme Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the 1,471-kg Vikram lander was designed to execute a soft landing on the lunar surface and function for one lunar day, which is equivalent to about 14 days on earth. The lander also carried three scientific payloads to conduct surface and sub-surface science experiments.
Vikram lander was scheduled to conduct a series of complex braking manoeuvres to soft land in the South polar region of the Moon between two craters - Manzinus C and Simpelius N. Had it been landed safely, the rover Pragyan placed inside the lander was come out and explore the surroundings of the lunar terrain.