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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Reducing orbit of Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter may be dangerous

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CHENNAI: Reducing the orbit of Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter to pick up any weak signals or to take a closer look the moon lander Vikram that had crash-landed on the lunar surface is a dangerous move, contend space scientists.


According to sources, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is looking at reducing Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter’s orbit from 100 km to 50 km above the lunar surface.


“Reducing the orbit of the Orbiter is a dangerous idea,” a former space agency official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.


“What is ISRO going to gain by this move is not known. Even if the Orbiter is able to pick up weak signals, in all probability, it will not be able to revive Vikram.


“At or above 100 km altitude, the Orbiter is safe. But if it is brought down to 50 km, then it has to be maintained there which requires firing of the on board engines. If that is not done, the Orbiter will slowly go down,” he added.


Firing of Orbiter’s on board engines will expend fuel and thereby reducing its life, he said.


“To bring down the Orbiter, ISRO has to fire its motors. Then to maintain that at 50 km height, fuel has to be expended. If ISRO decides to take it up to 100 km altitude, then further fuel has to be expended,” the expert remarked.


According to him, what is on hand is the precious Orbiter which should not be risked at this stage.


“The lander Vikram has gone. Period,” he added.


On September 8, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it has found Vikram on the lunar surface. “The lander seems to have hit the lunar surface and is in an upturned position,” an official said preferring anonymity.


On July 22, the Rs 978 crore Chandrayaan-2 was launched into the space by India’s heavy lift rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV Mk III) in a text book style. — IANS


Pakistan astronaut congratulates ISRO


KARACHI: Namira Salim, Pakistan’s first female astronaut, has congratulated the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) on the Chandrayaan-2 mission and its historic attempt to make a landing on the Moon.


Scientia, Salim said: “I congratulate India and ISRO on its historical attempt to make a successful soft landing of the Vikram lander at the South Pole of the Moon. “The Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission is indeed a giant leap for South Asia which not only makes the region but the entire global space industry proud.


“Regional developments in the space sector in South Asia are remarkable and no matter which nation leads — in space, all political boundaries dissolve and in space — what unites us, overrides, and divides us on Earth’’. — IANS


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