The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Tuesday expressed its gratitude to Indians in the country and abroad for the support it received after the space agency lost contact with the Chandrayaan-2 lander Vikram above the moon on September 7.
ISRO in a tweet, said:
Thank you for standing by us. We will continue to keep going forward propelled by the hopes and dreams of Indians across the world!
Thank you for standing by us. We will continue to keep going forward — propelled by the hopes and dreams of Indians across the world! pic.twitter.com/vPgEWcwvIa
— ISRO (@isro) September 17, 2019
Despite losing communication with lander ahead of the touchdown, the space agency had received support from the entire nation and even Indians abroad. People from all walks of a life heaped praises on ISRO and its scientists for the achievement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was there at space agency in Bengaluru to watch the planned touchdown of the lander, had backed ISRO scientists saying not to get disheartened and the country was proud of them.
I see the disappointment on your faces. No need to get dejected. We have learned a lot. These are moments to be courageous, and courageous we will be. We remain hopeful and will continue working hard on our space program.
(Image source from: News18.com)
The efforts to reestablish the link have been happening since lander Vikram lost communication with ground stations early on September 7 in the course of its final descent, just 2.1 km above the lunar surface, minutes before the planned touch-down on the Moon.
On the following day (September 8), ISRO said the lander was spotted on the lunar surface by the camera on-board the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
After losing contact with the lander Vikram, ISRO had said till date, 90 to 95 percent of the Chandrayaan-2 mission objectives have been attained and it would carry on with contributing to Lunar science, in spite of the loss of communication with the Lander.
The space agency had also noted that the precise launch and mission management has ensured a long life of almost seven years instead of the planned one year for the orbiter.
By Sowmya Sangam
