Chandrayaan-2 Gets Setback as Communication Lost with Vikram Lander at 2.1 km from Lunar Surface

New Delhi: In a blow to the India’s maiden attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon’s surface, the Lander Vikram of Chandrayaan-2 lost its communication link with the ISRO’s Deep Space Network and the mission control centre in Bengaluru.

“This is Mission Control Centre. Vikram Lander descent was as planned and normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km. Subsequently, communication from Lander to the ground stations was lost. Data is being analyzed”, the space agency announced on its Twitter handle.

This is Mission Control Centre. #VikramLander descent was as planned and normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km. Subsequently, communication from Lander to the ground stations was lost. Data is being analyzed.#ISRO

— ISRO (@isro) September 6, 2019

The powered descent of the lander started early this morning at 1 hour 38 minutes 3 seconds, when the Lander arrived at the point of 35 kilometre from the lunar surface. It was going on in very close match with proposed path till the fine breaking stage. Afterwards, its path deviated from the predicted path.

ISRO Chairman K Sivan announced that the powered descent of the lander Vikram has been normal till reaching the altitude of 2.1 km and that subsequently, the communication from the Lander was lost.

“As planned, normal performance was observed until altitude of 2.1 km. Then communication from lander to ground station was lost. The data is being analysed,” the ISRO chairman said in a statement.

Sivan also conveyed the same message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had arrived to witness the descent and the rolling of the rover.

Photo Courtesy: ISRO