Vikram Archives - Defence Monitor

03 Dec

‘Spotting Vikram on moon was a challenge when NASA couldn’t’

New York: Shanmuga Subramanian, the eagle-eyed citizen space scientist who found Vikram moonlander said on Tuesday that he took spotting it as a challenge when NASA couldn't.He said in an email interview to IANS: "It was something challenging as even NASA can't find out so why can't we try out? And that's the thought that led me to search for Vikram lander." Subramanian, who works as an information technology architect, in his spare time looked through the images taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) camera on September 17 and spotted a debris from Vikram.Those images were taken when the light…

16 Oct

Will NASA have answers on Vikram lander?

Chennai: It's the day Indian space scientists and Chandrayaan-2 enthusiasts had been waiting for. The US space agency NASA had promised hope of some news on the Viktram front by Tuesday after its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) flyby over the site where Indian lunar lander might have landed. Has the Indian moon lander Vikram been found or not is a question that the US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will soon be able to answer.A NASA official had earlier told IANS in New York that on October 14, its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) would fly over the site,…

13 Sep

ISRO to simulate varied scenarios to find why Vikram failed

Chennai: The Indian space agency will simulate various scenarios, including what it has not done and what it had assumed, to arrive the probable cause of its moon lander Vikram hitting the lunar surface after veering away from its plotted path and losing communication link with ground stations, a retired senior ISRO official said.Early on September 7, Vikram, while on its descent to soft land on the Moon's south polar region, apparently lost control and crash-landed there, snapping the communication links. "The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has to simulate various things and scenarios with the data on hand. It should…

09 Sep

‘Reducing Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter’s orbit may be dangerous’

Chennai: Reducing the orbit of Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter to pick up any weak signals or to take a closer look the moon lander Vikram that had crash-landed on the lunar surface is a dangerous move, contend space scientists.According to sources, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking at reducing Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter's orbit from 100 km to 50 km above the lunar surface."Reducing the orbit of the Orbiter is a dangerous idea," a former space agency official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IANS. "What is ISRO going to gain by this move is not known. Even if the Orbiter is able…

07 Sep

ISRO chief breaks down, Modi hugs, consoles him

Bengaluru: Years of hard work literally came to naught for ISRO on Saturday after it lost communication with Moon lander Vikram, and no amount of words could put it right for the scientists at ISTRAC here. Despite a motivational speech by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had rushed in to watch the mission's success late last night and then again was with the Team Chandrayaan-2 to speak to them, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan could not hold his tears and broke down as the PM was about to leave. In a very visible emotional outburst, Sivan was seen in…

07 Sep

Stay steady, our best yet to come: Modi to ISRO scientists

Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the scientists of ISRO, hours after the much-anticipated Vikram lander lost signal moments before its moon landing. Boosting the morale of Team Chandrayaan-2, he inspired them to march on, saying: "You came as close as you could. Stay steady and look ahead." He said every person was aware of the amount of disappointment they were feeling following the setback. Modi said if a poet was to write about this, he would mention: "Chandrayaan rushed towards Chandra Maa to hug her..." which drew a loud applause from the audience. Minutes later, the Prime Minister…

03 Sep

ISRO completes de-oribital operation of moon lander Vikram

Chennai: India's first moon lander -- Vikram -- on Tuesday got nearer to the Moon with the Indian space agency successfully completing the first of the two de-orbital operations.According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the de-orbital operation began at 8.50 a.m. as planned. Using the onboard propulsion system for 4 seconds the operation was carried out successfully.The orbit of Vikram Lander is 104 km x 128 km. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in the existing orbit and both the Orbiter and Lander are healthy.The next de-orbiting operation is scheduled on Wednesday between 3.30 a.m - 4.30…