New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: Enthusiasm turned into a sense of distress at Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Mission Operations Complex in Bengaluru as Chandrayaan 2's lander 'Vikram' lost communication with the ground stations on Saturday just ahead of the soft landing.
The intervening night of Friday and Saturday witnessed a tense situation at the ISRO centre in Bengaluru where Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached to watch the landing of ‘Vikram’ live along with the ISRO scientists and 70 school children.
PM Modi arrived at the ISRO headquarters and was greeted by ISRO Chairman K Sivan and other scientists present there. He met the ISRO team there and wished them good luck for the landing.
PM Modi along with scientists and children enthusiastically waited to watch the successful landing of Vikram on the lunar surface, which scheduled to land on the Moon’s surface at 1:55 am.
However, as described earlier by K Sivan that last 15 minutes will be the most crucial, the lander Vikram lost all communications with the ground stations after reaching the distance of 2.1 km from the Lunar surface.
"Vikram lander descent was as planned and normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km. Subsequently, the communication from lander to groundstations was lost," ISRO Chairman K Sivan said.
After the heartbreaking news was announced by ISRO Chairman, scientist along with the nation went in shock, but for what PM Modi is known for, he applauded the work of the scientist and called this an ultimate achievement.
Later in the morning at 8 am PM again reached the ISRO headquarters and addressed the nation from there. Addressing the scientists' hours after ISRO announced that it had lost communication with the lander, he said that the country's determination to land on the moon has become even stronger.
PM Modi also praised the ISRO scientists and said that the whole ‘country is proud of them’ and they work for ‘India’s pride’.
“Friends I could feel what you were going through few hours back, your eyes were conveying a lot. You live for India's honour, I salute you. I understand what you went through last night. You work for India's pride,” said PM Modi.
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“For the last few hours the entire nation was worried. Everyone stands in solidarity with our scientists. We are proud of our space program. Today our resolve to touch the moon has grown even stronger,” PM Modi added.
PM Modi further said that this time the ISRO came close but will have to cover more ground in the times to come.
“You are those who live for Maa Bharti, you live to see her triumph. You are those who fight for Maa Bharti. You are those who have a passion for serving Maa Bharti. You are those who devote their entire lives to see Maa Bharti's head held high,” PM Modi added.
He further said that there is no failure in science and the difficulties faced today will make ISRO better for the future.
Ending his speech, PM Modi said, “Your dreams and resolves are stronger than mine. I am meeting you not to lecture you but to get inspired from you.”
After finishing his address PM Modi leaves the ISRO headquarters where ISRO Chairman K Sivan got emotional and started crying, to which PM Modi hugged him and consoled him, and gives a thumbs-up to the work and dedication ISRO scientist showed to make India proud.
