After the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) lost contact with the Vikram lander which was supposed to make a soft landing on the moon’s surface, everyone in India felt the scientists’ disappointment.
Hope returned for every Indian after NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been orbiting the moon for 10 years, crossed over the Vikram landing site on Tuesday. But we were to face yet another disappointment as even NASA couldn’t capture an image of the lander. Joshua A Handal, public affairs officer, planetary science division, NASA said,
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) acquired images around the targeted landing site, but the exact location of the lander was not known so the lander may not be in the camera field of view.
The images taken by the LROC team will be compared to the ones taken before to see if the lander is visible. After careful review and analysis, the results will be released.
According to reports, experts have determined that the likelihood of the LROC spotting the lander is very less. Handal also added that the next time the LRO will fly over the landing site will be on 14th October when the lighting is in their favour.
However, by then the chance of reconnecting with the lander will be completely gone as the lunar night which begins on 21st September will witness a drastic drop in the temperature.
Vikram, come back!