Chennai: Reducing the orbit of Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter to pick up any weak signals or to take a closer look the moon lander Vikram that had crash-landed on the lunar surface is a dangerous move, contend a renowned space scientist.
According to a source, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking at reducing Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter’s orbit from 100 km to 50 km above the lunar surface.
“Reducing the orbit of the Orbiter is a dangerous idea,” a former space agency official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IANS.
“What is ISRO going to gain by this move is not known. Even if the Orbiter is able to pick up weak signals, in all probability, it will not be able to revive Vikram.
“At or above 100 km altitude, the Orbiter is safe. But if it is brought down to 50 km, then it has to be maintained there which requires firing of the on-board engines. If that is not done, the Orbiter will slowly go down,” he added.
Firing of Orbiter’s on-board engines will expend fuel and thereby reducing its life, he said.
“To bring down the Orbiter, ISRO has to fire its motors. Then to maintain that at 50 km height, fuel has to be expended. If ISRO decides to take it up to 100 km altitude, then further fuel has to be expended,” the expert remarked.
According to him, what is on hand is the precious Orbiter which should not be risked at this stage.
“The lander Vikram has gone. Period,” he added.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it has found Vikram on the lunar surface September 8.
“The lander seems to have hit the lunar surface and is in an upturned position,” an official told IANS preferring anonymity.
The Rs 978-crore Chandrayaan-2 was launched into the space by India’s heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III) in a text book style July 22.
The Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft comprised three segments — the Orbiter (weighing 2,379 kg, eight payloads), ‘Vikram’ (1,471 kg, four payloads) and ‘Pragyan’ (27 kg, two payloads).
After five earth-bound orbit raising activities, Chandrayaan-2 was inserted into the lunar orbit. September 2, Vikram separated from the orbiter.
Early September 7, Vikram, while on its descent to soft land on the moon’s south polar region, apparently lost control and crash-landed there, snapping the communication links.
Meanwhile, ISRO officials said that any update on Chandrayaan-2 mission, including the status of the moon lander Vikram that crash landed on the lunar surface Saturday, will be announced on the organisation’s website.
(IANS)