ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) has lost contact with India’s first moon mission, the Chandrayaan-I. With that India’s first moon mission has come to a premature end. Chandrayaan was launched on 22 October 2008 using a PSLV. Chandrayaan-I was carrying 11 scientific instruments on board, among which, 6 were foreign. It was expected to send data about moon for about two years, but it has ended in just about 10 months.
Though the mission has ended prematurely, majority of the scientific objectives have been achieved, claims ISRO. It has sent many high resolution images of lunar surface and craters. The data will help ISRO in better understanding of the lunar environment.
The mission is not a complete failure as it not only has sent many detailed pictures on moon but has also given ISRO valuable experience in space flight which will prove critical as ISRO is aiming to land Chandrayaan-II on moon in a few years time.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
i didn’t know that indians have a space research organisation. Interesting thing to know!