Chandrayaan-2: Vikram Lander located on lunar surface, says Sivan

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Sept 8, 2019: The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter has located the Vikram Landeron the lunar surface, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan has confirmed. However, communication is yet to be established with Vikram, which had hard-landed early on Saturday morning.

The Orbiter has relayed the first images of the Lander, and ISRO is expected to put them out any time soon. On Saturday evening, Sivan had said thatthe space agency was trying to re-establish the communicationlink with Vikram, and the attempt would continue for the next 14 days.

Morale boosting messages poured in from various quarters for ISRO as several leaders asked the space agency not to get disheartened after Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram lander lost contact with ground stations minutes before its planned touchdown on the lunar surface.

Expressing solidarity with the scientific community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "India is proud of our scientists", and asked them to be "courageous." Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too extended her support to the ISRO scientists. She tweeted, "We are with you ISRO. You have brought the nation, its young minds and all, together in sensing your achievements in Space. You will succeed."