Chandrayaan2 - An 'Almost' Success

On 7 September 2019, Saturday, The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost contact with Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan-2 while attempting to soft land near the south pole of the moon.

The inability of ISRO to effectively land Chandrayaan-2 lander, Vikram, on Moon encouraged millions of Indians to support the long-term aspiration of the country's space researchers, rather than feel dejected. Millions remained awake in the morning's wee hours, hoping to see the Chandrayaan-2 mission reach the lunar surface. As soon as the Vikram lander lost communication with ISRO during the landing, messages have come in from across the country encouraging and motivating ISRO scientists to not lose hope and carry on with the mission. It was not what it ideally should have been; a resounding success. And yet, as many are fast to believe, this was not a mission failure. Things didn't go according to plan, but there is still hope that the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan 2 and the Pragyaan rover within it will be saved.

Chandrayaan-2 is the most complicated task to date of ISRO. What ISRO was attempting to do was a "soft landing" so as not to harm any tools on board. They had to start braking at 30 km up to do that first, then perform "fine braking" at about 7 km high. This would allow the aircraft to slow sufficiently and to drift down the last few feet using microgravity.

Source: Firstpost

Although the Lander and the Rover have failed to land on the South Pole of the Moon, the task is successful at 95 percent, and this is not a complete failure. An ISRO official confirmed this, as he said, “Only 5 percent of the mission has been lost – Vikram the lander and Pragyan the rover – while the remaining 95 percent – that is the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter – is orbiting the moon successfully,”. Vikram lander is in one piece, but tilted. It was very near to the scheduled (landing) site as per the pictures sent by the orbiter's on-board camera. According to a senior ISRO official connected with the mission, the lander is there as a single piece, not broken into parts, it is in a tilted situation. Because in the final moments, the spacecraft was disconnected from HQ, it is feasible that there is merely a communication problem and the lander was securely touched down. It's not very probable necessarily, but it's feasible. And if the lander still works, if it's upright, and if ISRO can get back online communications, we're good to go.

According to the writer and managing editor of Nasa Spaceflight Chris G, the orbiter is where 95 per cent of the experiments are. The orbiter is safely in lunar orbit and performing its mission. This is not a total failure. The Chandrayaan 2 mission's primary orbiter is still orbiting the Moon, sending live pictures and information all the way to Sriharikota's Indian Space Station. The Orbiter has a life of more than a year, and it will continue to send us important Moon data and information that has never occurred before.

Source: Twitter

Furthermore, Chandrayaan 2's complete price is only Rs 978 crore, out of which Rs 608 crore was spent on spacecraft systems, and the remaining Rs 375 crore was spent on the MK-III GSLV launcher. The Statue of Unity in Gujarat cost Rs 2966 crore compared to this, and the film Avengers: Endgame was created at Rs 3636 crore's cost. The world is in awe of ISRO and Indian scientists as to how they might at such a small price send a mission to the Moon, and this is India's true success.

Source: Livemint

Several emotional appeals online seek to inform ISRO scientists that they have inspired a generation of young Indians to take up astronomy as a profession. "ISRO scientists are an inspiration for the kinds of next-generation, ISRO you are our pride, a heartfelt thanks from a grateful nation," says Anjaneya Kaur, a 10 year old in his open letter to ISRO scientists.

According to India Today, it is because of Chandrayaan-2, India also witnessed a unity of diversity of religions. Murari Ji Agarwal, Giriraj Seva Samiti's founder, said, "Anant Chaturdashi is one of the prominent festivals in the Braj region and a chhappan bhog is held on this day every year, but this time the chappan bhog is aimed at ISRO's achievement in the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 release in 2020. On this occasion, Isro researchers will also obtain the well-wishes and blessings of all Indians through this unique puja." Islamic religious leaders in Agra have said that if Chandrayaan-2 moon mission becomes effective, they will give a chadar at Salim Chishti Dargah in Fatehpur Sikri.

Even though there is still no formal confirmation on the final status of Chandrayaan 2, India is still rooting for the completion of the final stage of Chandrayaan 2.