Bangalore: In a huge disappointment, communications from Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram lander to ISRO’s ground station here was lost before touchdown while the nation eagerly awaited its soft landing on the hitherto unexplored lunar south pole in the early hours of Saturday.
Addressing the scientists after the link was snapped, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Nation is proud of you, be courageous.”
No one seemed to be more devastated by the incident than ISRO’s chief K Sivan. A video of Sivan breaking down on PM Modi’s arms has gone viral on the internet.
The video features PM Modi consoling a dejected Sivan while a crowd of onlookers stand all around them.
Watch the video here:
#WATCH PM Narendra Modi hugged and consoled ISRO Chief K Sivan after he(Sivan) broke down. #Chandrayaan2 pic.twitter.com/bytNChtqNK
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2019
As the powered descent of the lander began at around 1.38 am, scientists at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) here were glued to their terminals, anticipating the soft landing.
They clapped and cheered as the moon lander completed the rough braking phase before the fine braking phase started.
It was then that the scientists started becoming tense and went into a huddle.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan was seen engaged in intense discussions with some scientists.
Soon he announced that the Vikram lander descent was as planned and normal performance observed upto altitude of 2.1 km.
Subsequently communications from lander to ground station was lost, he said, adding the data was being analysed.
PNN/Agencies