It was 1:38 in the night. Tension was clearly visible on the faces of the scientists in ISRO’s mission control room. Suddenly the control room erupted in thunderous applause. The faces of everyone present there lit up. Vikram’s soft landing process had started. With this, the countdown of those 15 minutes of terror had started, about which the then chief of ISRO, K.K. Sivan had already warned. Those critical 15 minutes which were crucial for Vikram to land on the lunar surface.
Tick-tick-tick-tick… every moment, every second was full of excitement. Eyes were staring at the pictures and graphs running on the huge screen.
When the rough breaking phase of Lander Vikram started, its speed was 1680 meters per second. It had to be reduced continuously. Within 3 minutes the speed decreased to 360 meters per second. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also gazing at the screen. In between, a senior scientist was briefing him. Every single moment was important. Then the voice echoes on the mike, ‘The speed of the lander has now reduced to 50 percent. … Everything is going as planned.’ At one o’clock 48 minutes, the control room again echoed with thunderous applause. Excitement more than ever. The rough breaking phase was over and our Vikram was just 7.4 km from the lunar surface.
After the rough breaking phase, the second phase i.e. fine breaking phase started. Now the speed of the lander had reduced to 96 meters per second. The time was 1:51. The lander was very close to the lunar surface. It was 1.53 am and the lander was estimated to be just 600 to 700 meters away from the moon. In the next one minute, it was visible on the screen that Vikram was just 300 meters away from the lunar surface. There was complete silence in ISRO’s mission control room. Tension was rising on the faces. Some were biting their nails, some were rubbing their hands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also under stress. Cheek rested on one palm and eyes fixed on the screen. On the other hand, curiosity was increasing among people glued to TV and mobile screens across the country. Now there will be some announcement, today the sky will be in the fist. The camera is showing that a scientist is seen briefing PM Modi. The tension was at its peak. Some scientists were seen sitting on the chair with their face covered with both the hands.
Its LMV3 is ready to go to the moon, ISRO showed how it will fly
It was 57 minutes past one. Only then ISRO Chief Sivan gets up from his seat. Going forward, he starts discussing something with some scientists. These were the last few moments of 15 minutes of terror. Only then Sivan slowly moves towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tension was clearly visible on his face. He tells something to PM Modi and again goes back to his seat. Can’t understand what happened? Those moments of tension and silence were pointing towards the apprehension of something untoward. Then Sivan’s voice echoes on the mike. Perhaps this was his most difficult announcement. The announcement is that when the lander Vikram was at a distance of 2.1 km from the surface of the moon, it lost contact with the ground station. The data is being analyzed.
With this, crores of hearts sank. The desire to touch the moon remained unfulfilled. Even after going so close, we could not touch the moon. Only then Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches among the scientists. Encourage them that this is not a small achievement that you have achieved. The country is proud of you. Ups and downs keep coming. The Prime Minister told the scientists, ‘Many congratulations to you from my side. Our journey will continue even further. I am totally with you, walk with courage. And due to your efforts, the country will once again start celebrating.’ ISRO Chief Sivan was shocked by the crash landing of Chandrayaan-2’s lander. Years of hard work kept becoming completely successful. In the morning, PM Modi reaches ISRO’s control room again and inspires the disheartened scientists that our spirits have been strengthened by the obstacles. When the Prime Minister started leaving, K Sivan reached his car to drop him off but suddenly he started crying bitterly. The Prime Minister hugged this scientist of his. That scene was very emotional.
Then Prime Minister Modi had told the scientists that due to their efforts, the country would start celebrating again. Now after 4 years that opportunity is going to come again. Leaving past failures behind, India is eager to touch the moon with high spirits. Our Chandrayaan-3 is ready to kiss the moon. Chandrayaan 3, which is going to be launched on July 14, will definitely beat ‘those 15 minutes of terror’. Another jewel is about to be added to the crown of great achievements of ISRO. Those sobs of K Sivan became stubborn to conquer the moon and after that faltering, ISRO is ready to grasp the moon again.