News Science Communications from lander Vikram lost, Isro goes in a huddle | As it happened

Communications from lander Vikram lost, Isro goes in a huddle | As it happened

In a huge disappointment, communications from Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander to ISRO's ground station was lost before touchdown while the nation eagerly awaited its soft landing on the hitherto unexplored lunar south pole in the early hours of Saturday. Addressing the scientists after the link was snapped, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Nation is proud of you, be courageous."

Chandrayaan-2 ISRO chief K Sivan briefed PM Modi

In a huge disappointment, communications from Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander to ISRO's ground station here was lost before touchdown while the nation eagerly awaited its soft landing on the hitherto unexplored lunar south pole in the early hours of Saturday. Addressing the scientists after the link was snapped, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Nation is proud of you, be courageous."

As the powered descent of the lander began at around 1.38 am, scientists at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) here were glued to their terminals, anticipating the soft landing.

They clapped and cheered as the moon lander completed the rough braking phase before the fine braking phase started. It was then that the scientists started becoming tense and went into a huddle.

ISRO Chairman K Sivan was seen engaged in intense discussions with some scientists. Soon he announced that the Vikram lander descent was as planned and normal performance observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km.

Subsequently, communications from the lander to the ground station was lost, he said, adding the data was being analysed The Prime Minister said: "They've (scientists) given their best and have always made India proud." 

Live updates : Contact with Vikram lost, data being analysed: ISRO

  • 4:47 AM (IST)

    ISRO calls it a night but Cheer Up! Chandrayaan-2 is already a big success

    Chandrayaan-2 is a big success. India has managed to put a second spacecraft in the orbit of the moon. Vikram lander is a part of a much larger mission. The lander will land on the moon and perform experiments for the next 7 days. However, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter will be orbiting the moon for the next year. The amount of data it will send back will be priceless. A countless number of experiments it will conduct will be very very crucial for the future ISRO missions.

    Read More | Cheer up! Chandrayaan-2 is already a BIG success

  • 3:18 AM (IST)

    ISRO cancels planned press conference earlier scheduled at 8 am on Saturday

    Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has formally announced that press conference earlier planned at 8 am on Saturday (September 7). Vikram lander was scheduled to land on the moon at 1:53 am on Saturday. Pragyan rover was scheduled to start moving on the surface at 6 am. The press conference was meant to be a briefing on the moon mission.  

  • 3:07 AM (IST)

    "...India stands with our committed and hard working scientists at ISRO..." says Amit Shah

    "ISRO’s achievement with getting Chandrayaan-2 so far has made every Indian proud. India stands with our committed and hard working scientists at 
    @isro My best wishes for future endeavours," said Amit Shah on Twitter.

     

  • 3:02 AM (IST)

    Railway Minister Piyush Goyal stands in solidarity with ISRO

    "What a phenomenal achievement!!!! We are there..... we shall remain hopeful and courageous and have no doubt that we will cover the last mile.....SOON," is how Railway Minister Piyush Goyal chose to stand with ISRO

     

  • 2:59 AM (IST)

    We are with you ISRO, says Nirmala Sitharaman on Twitter

    Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted her support for ISRO

    "We are with you. You have brought the nation, it’s young minds and all, together in sensing your achievements in Space. You will succeed," she tweeted.

  • 2:52 AM (IST)

    Next 15 minutes crucial as ISRO analyses data

    ISRO is analysing data about Vikram lander. Next 15 minutes are crucial

     

  • 2:31 AM (IST)

    I am with you all the way: PM Narendra Modi to ISRO scientists

    PM Modi addressed ISRO scientists and said that country is proud of their dedication and service towards the nation and science. He assured them thar he is with them all along.

  • 2:28 AM (IST)

    What we achieved is no small thing: PM Modi

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the scientists of ISRO and said that what the organisation has achieved is not a small feat. Minutes before that ISRO chief K Sivan announced that communication with Vikram lander was lost at 2.1 km from the surface of the moon.

  • 2:19 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2: Communication with Vikram lander lost at altitude of 2.1 km from: ISRO chief Sivan

    ISRO Chairman K Sivan confirms that till 2.1 km  Vikram lander was normal. Lander to ground station communication was lost. Data is being analysed.

  • 2:09 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2: ISRO re-establishes communication with Vikram lander, awaits data | LIVE

    After a few tense moments, ISRO has been successful in establishing contact with Vikram lander. However, ISRO is still awaiting data from Vikram lander.

  • 2:06 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan 2: ISRO awaits data from Vikram lander

    ISTRAC headquarters in Bengaluru are going through some tense moments as ISRO is awaiting data from Vikram lander.

  • 2:02 AM (IST)

    ISRO chief Sivan speaks with PM Modi, K Kasturirangan gives him a pat on back

    ISRO chief K Sivan briefed PM Narendra Modi about the latest situation. Former ISRO chief Kasturirangan patted him on the back. PM Modi left the viewing gallery soon.

  • 1:54 AM (IST)

    Vikram to touchdown on moon anytime now, nervous moments in ISRO

    Vikram is about to land on the Moon in a few moments

  • 1:50 AM (IST)

    Vikram the lander just 7.4 km away from moon's surface

    The process of Fine Braking of Vikram the lander from the orbiter has begun. Touchdown shortly. Tense moments in ISTRAC in Bengaluru. PM Modi in attendance.

  • 1:47 AM (IST)

    Minutes away from creating history: Vikram travelling at 450 m/s

    Vikram the lander is travelling at a velocity of 450 m/s. India minutes away from creating history.

  • 1:44 AM (IST)

    Vikram Lander 30 km from landing spot

    Vikram lander is 30 km from its specified landing spot. Rough braking phase to last for the next 4 minutes. 

  • 1:40 AM (IST)

    Vikram lander begins rough braking

    Lander Vikram has begun its descent towards the moon. Next 15 minutes will be crucial. Rough braking phase has been initiated. 

  • 1:35 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan 2 moon landing: Vikram the lander chooses the landing site, descent to begin shortly

    A landing site on the moon has been chosen for Vikram lander. Descent of the lander to land on the moon will begin in a few minutes.

  • 1:26 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2: PM Narendra Modi arrives at ISRO

    Chandrayaan-2: PM Narendra Modi arrives at ISRO. ISRO chief Sivan received him. 

    Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, former head of ISRO, is all at the ISTRAC in Bengaluru to witness Chandrayaan 2 historic moon landing. 

    Vikram - The Lander, has zeroed the landing site on Moon's South Pole. 

  • 12:47 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 moon landing: Doordarshan makes extension arrangements for Live streaming and telecast

    As Chandrayaan-2 inches closer to the Moon, state broadcaster Doordarshan is busy making extensive arrangements for Live streaming and telecast of the historic moon landing.

    Click here to know what's in store

  • 12:24 AM (IST)

    Chandrayaan 2 moon landing: Jeff Bezos wishes India good luck

    World's richest man and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos said he was "rooting for team India". He has wished India good luck.

  • 11:48 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 moon landing: ISRO tweets link to watch lunar landing LIVE

    All Indians are naturally excited as the country prepares to make history. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has tweeted a link to watch LIVE telecast of the moon landing.

  • 11:28 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 moon landing: Last few hours before touchdown, ISRO abuzz with activity

    Only a few hours remain before Chandrayaan-2 mission achieves the most important milestone. Moon landing. Everything is in place. Scientists and officials may be going through what is known as 'nervous nineties' in cricket parlance. 

    But Chandrayaan-2 is making steady and resolute progress towards its goal.

     

     

  • 11:04 PM (IST)

    Minute-by-minute breakdown of process during Chandrayaan-2 moon landing:

    Here's how things will unfold during Chandrayaan's moon landing

  • 10:07 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 Moon Landing: PM Narendra Modi reaches Bengaluru, to go to ISRO

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Bengaluru. He was received by Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa. He will reach ISRO centre tonight.

  • 9:07 PM (IST)

    Some details of India's Chandrayaan-2 mission:

    The mission's payloads consists of Terrain Mapping Camera-2, Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer, Solar X-Ray Monitor, Imaging IR Spectrometer among others.

     

  • 9:06 PM (IST)

    Here are some behind the scene images of Chandrayaan-2 mission

    Here are some behind the scene images of Chandrayaan-2 mission

  • 8:42 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 Moon landing: Lunar Orbitter wishes "Best of luck!" to lander Vikram

    In the age of Twitter and social media, even space stations and vehicles are speaking to each other.

    Ahead of the landing Chandrayaan 2 near the moon's south pole at 1:43 a.m. on Saturday, the Indian space agency has posted a message on Twitter featuring the spacecraft Lunar Orbiter extending good wishes to the Lander Vikram

    An animated picture posted on the Indian Space Research Organisations' (ISRO) social media handle shows the Lunar Orbiter saying at the time of releasing Lander Vikram: "It was great travelling with you so far Vikram. Best of luck! I hope you reach the South Pole soon". To this Vikram replies, "It was quite the journey indeed! I'll see you around - in the orbit."

  • 7:45 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 moon landing: India's Pragyan rover will not be the only thing moving on lunar surface

    Pragyan rover is the actual vehicle which will move on the surface of the moon and carry out scientific experiment. But Pragyan will not be the only one crawling the surface of the moon.

    Click here to know what else will be there on the moon

     

  • 7:32 PM (IST)

    Want PM Narendra Modi to retweet you? Here's what you have to do

    PM Narendra Modi has already appealed everyone to be part of India's historic journey. He has urged the nation to watch "special moments" of Chandrayaan's moon landing

    He may even retweet a tweet YOU post.

    Want to know how?

    Click here for details

  • 7:01 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2 moon landing: ISRO releases new video

    ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has released a new video. The video tells us more about Pragyan rover which will carry out research on the lunar surface. Check it out

  • 6:50 PM (IST)

    Here is how ISRO will create history tonight

    Check out the video

  • 6:44 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2: Watch live streaming of moon landing here

    India is soon to become first country in the world to land on the South Pole of the moon. Watching it live will be a great moment for the entire nation. Here is how you can watch Live streaming of Chandrayaan-2 moon landing.

    Click here to know more

  • 6:41 PM (IST)

    Chandrayaan-2: PM Narendra Modi urges everyone to watch historic landing

    PM Narendra Modi has urged everyone to watch the historic landing of Chandrayaan-2

    "I urge you all to watch the special moments of Chandrayaan - 2 descending on to the Lunar South Pole! Do share your photos on social media. I will re-tweet some of them too." he tweeted.