Bangalore: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has not given up efforts to spring Chandrayaan-2’s lander ‘Vikram’ lying on the lunar surface back to life after a hard-landing more than three weeks ago, senior officials indicated here, Tuesday.
ISRO said September 7 that ground stations lost communication with ‘Vikram’ (with rover ‘Praygan’ tucked inside it), minutes before its planned soft-landing on the lunar surface.
Since then the space agency had been making ‘all possible’ efforts to establish link with the lander but had apparently suspended those operations 10 days ago following night fall on the Moon.
“Now it’s (establishing contact) not possible, it’s night time there. May be after this, probably we will start again. It’s night at the landing site, power may not be there,” ISRO chairman K Sivan told this agency Tuesday. “We will make efforts afterwards (during day-time on lunar surface) also,” added K Sivan.
The mission life of the lander and the rover will be one lunar day which is equal to fourteen earth days, ISRO had said prior to the launch of Chandrayaan-2.
Some space experts believe regaining link with the lander ‘Vikram’ now appears extremely difficult. “I think finding link after so many days is going to be extremely difficult but there is nothing wrong in trying,” an ISRO official said on condition of anonymity.
Asked if the lander can withstand the severe cold conditions on the moon during night-time, this official said: “Not only cold, impact shock is something one has to worry about. The lander has come down at a high speed. The shock generated can damage many things inside, that way it’s highly doubtful. Communication antenna which orientation… where it’s looking… that way it’s extremely difficult to establish contact.
PTI