NEW DELHI – Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram Lander was just 2.1 kilometres away frommaking history when it lost contact with the Indian Space ResearchOrganisation Mission Control Centre.

The descent progressed smoothly for 13 minutes before Vikram started todeviate from its planned path and about 12 seconds before the touch down onMoon’s surface , ISRO scientists at the agency’s Telemetry, Tracking andCommand Network in Bengaluru started to look nervous as Prime MinisterNarendra Modi watched the spacecraft’s progress on a large screen.

Even as entire India prayed for some good news early Saturday morning, adejected ISRO chairperson K Sivan announced that contact with Vikram waslost.

Replying to a query that whether Vikram Lander has crashed, DeviprasadKarnik, a scientist at ISRO said that data is being analysed and ISRO doesnot have any result yet. Karnik added that it takes time to analyse thedata and ISRO is not sure about the fate of Vikram Lander.

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This is Mission Control Centre. #VikramLanderlink descent was as plannedand normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km.Subsequently, communication from Lander to the ground stations was lost.Data is being analyzed.#ISRO link109K link2:30 AM – Sep 7, 2019 linkTwitter Ads info and privacy link

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Prime Minister Modi was briefed by the ISRO chairperson and other seniorscientists after Vikram Lander lost contact with Mission Control Centre.

The Prime Minister praised ISRO scientists and said that life is full ofups and downs. He lauded the scientists for their efforts and said thatChandrayaan-2 was not a small achievement. He added that the nation isproud of ISRO and asked the space scientists to remain courageous.

He also congratulated the scientists and said that they have done a bigservice to nation, science and mankind. The prime minister assured the ISROscientists that he is always with them and encouraged them to move forwardbravely.