Chairman K Sivan is not on any social media platforms: ISRO

File photo of VIDEO GRAB of Live telecast of soft landing of Vikram module of Chandrayaan 2 on lunar surface, in Bengaluru, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. As declared by ISRO Chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan, the connection with Vikram lander was lost and resumption of communications is awaited. - PTI
The ‘Vikram’ lander lies on the lunar surface as a single piece, unbroken and it is in a tilted position following a hard landing while efforts to re-establish link with the probe were on, an ISRO official said on Monday.
“The lander is there (on lunar surface) as a single piece, not broken into pieces. It’s in a tilted position,” an ISRO official associated with the mission claimed.
Read more: Chandrayaan2 - After set back to Vikram Lander, reward awaits ISRO with the Orbiter
Though the lander hit the surface hard while landing, it was still very close to the scheduled touchdown site as per the images sent by the orbiter’s onboard camera, he said.
“We are making all-out efforts to see whether communication can be re-established with the lander,” the official said.
Also read:ISRO loses contact with moon lander 'Vikram'
“An ISRO team is the on the job at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC),” he added.
Chandrayaan-2 comprises an orbiter, lander (Vikram) and rover (Pragyan).
The mission life of the lander and rover is one lunar day, which is equal to 14 earth days.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said on Saturday that the space agency would try to restore link with the lander for 14 days, and reiterated the resolve on September 8 after the orbiter’s camera spotted it on the Lunar surface.
An ISRO official said chances of restoring link with the lander were bleak since its system functionality was a prerequisite to achieve that.
“Unless and until everything is intact (in lander), it’s very difficult (to re-establish contact). Chances are less. Only if it had soft-landing, and if all systems functioned, then only communication can be restored. Things are bleak as of now.”
Another space agency official, though felt that chances did exist for restoring link, however, listed the limitations involved.
Recalling ISRO’s experience of recovering a spacecraft that went out of contact in the geostationary orbit, he said the lander’s case was dissimilar.
In the case of Vikram, “that kind of operational flexibility is not there,” since it is already on the lunar surface and it cannot be reoriented, he said.
A vital aspect is positioning of antennas and these have to be pointed towards either the ground station or the orbiter, he said.
“Such an operation is extremely difficult,” he said adding “we will have to keep our fingers crossed.”
The official said, however, the lander’s generating power was not an issue since it had solar panels all around it and encompasses internal batteries as well which are not used much.
Vikram carried three payloads--Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA), Chandra’s Surface Thermo-physical Experiment (ChaSTE) and Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA).
Indian researchers are working on cells that can store more energy, last longer
To fix a broken bone, doctors often harvest another bone from the patient’s body or from someone else. It ...
Superconductors from IIScScientists at IISc Bangalore have invented a device with a nanocrystal structure ...
Engineering and construction giant L&T has won a licence from the Council of Scientific & Industrial ...
Digital money-lending platforms may be hassle-free and convenient, but look before you leap
Both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex continue to record new highs, but stay alert
Those with a moderate risk appetite & an investment horizon of 3 years can consider the fund
Ensure that the investment thesis based on which you bought the IPO still holds good
India is ready with two vaccines to beat the deadliest virus of recent times. The immunisation drive, however, ...
Although they match their Gujarati, South Indian and North Indian counterparts bite for bite, Maharashtrian ...
Actor-director Seema Pahwa spent her time in pandemic 2020 building stories around the eccentricities of joint ...
The clinician scientist on how to combat a mutating virus
Agencies are optimistic that ad volumes and spend will rebound
When tech meets fashion, it can knock your socks off
2020 ambushed and battered agencies — but advertising kept audiences engaged
The turn of the year is a great opportunity for brands to put their best feet forward and showcase ...
Three years after its inception, compliance with GST procedures remains a headache for exporters, job workers ...
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of companies are altering the prospects for wooden toys of ...
Aequs Aerospace to create space for large-scale manufacture of toys at Koppal
And it has every reason to smile. Covid-19 has triggered a consumer shift towards branded products as ...
Please Email the Editor