NASA finds debris of Chandrayaan 2’s Vikram lander on Moon
Team Udayavani, Dec 3, 2019, 9:13 AM IST
Washington: NASA’s Moon-orbiting spacecraft has found the debris of Chandrayaan 2’s lander Vikram on the surface of the Moon, the US space agency confirmed on Tuesday, nearly three months after India’s ambitious mission made a hard landing near the uncharted lunar south pole.
On September 7, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attempted a soft landing of Vikram on the Moon. However, ISRO lost contact with Vikram shortly before the scheduled touchdown.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Camera team released the first mosaic, acquired on September 17, of the site on September 26.
Indian Engineer Shanmuga Subramanian contacted NASA’s project after which, the US space agency confirmed the identification of debris by comparing before and after images.
“After receiving this tip, the LROC team confirmed the identification by comparing before and after images. When the images for the first mosaic were acquired the impact point was poorly illuminated and thus not easily identifiable,” NASA said in a statement.
The two subsequent image sequences were acquired on October 14 and 15, and on November 11, NASA said.
The LROC team scoured the surrounding area in these new mosaics and found the impact site (70.8810 degrees South, 22.7840 degrees East) and associated debris field.
According to NASA, the November mosaic had the best pixel scale (0.7 metre) and lighting conditions (72 degrees incidence angle).
“The debris first located by Shanmuga is about 750 meters northwest of the main crash site and was a single bright pixel identification in that first mosaic,” NASA said in a statement.
The November mosaic shows best the impact crater, ray and extensive debris field, NASA said, adding that the three largest pieces of debris are each about 2×2 pixels and cast a one-pixel shadow.
Ever since ISRO lost contact with Vikram, NASA has made several attempts to locate the Chandrayaan-2 lander with the help of its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The LRO flew over Vikram’s landing site once on September 17 and next on October 14.
The ambitious Chandrayaan-2 mission to the Moon was launched in July. If the spacecraft had reached the surface in one piece on September 7, India would have been only the fourth country to successfully put a lander on the Moon.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
NGT slaps Noida-based realtor with Rs 113.25 cr fine, raps ED for delayed action
I wear 140 cr Indians’ trust as protective shield, lies can’t breach it: PM Modi hits back at Oppn
Celebrate ‘Cow Hug Day’ on Feb 14: Animal Welfare Board of India
It is clear PM Modi protecting Adani: Rahul Gandhi
10 Indians stuck in remote areas of quake-hit Turkiye, but safe: MEA
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Hope fading as deaths in Turkiye, Syria quake pass 11,000
K’taka discusses investment plans with Foxconn chairman
NGT slaps Noida-based realtor with Rs 113.25 cr fine, raps ED for delayed action
All-out efforts to save VISL will be taken: CM Bommai tells workers
France’s Total puts hydrogen partnership with Adani on hold pending clarity on allegation