The Arrival of Chandrayan-2 on the Moon.
Between 0130 and 0230 hrs, the lunar lander(Vikram) from the Chandrayan spacecraft would
land at the south pole of the Moon. It will be a first for a nation to have accomplished this feat.
Many thoughts come to my mind at this stage which I would like to share at this moment and
they are:-
(a) During my childhood, I used to hear that there used to be a communication blackout when a
spacecraft went 'behind' or to the 'other side of the Moon', due to limitations of the
prevalent technology then.
(b) The Moon rotates on its own axis but at exactly the right speed to keep the same face
turned towards the Earth at all times. The Moon orbits the Earth once every 27.322 days. It
also takes approximately 27 days for the Moon to rotate on its own axis. The synchronisation
is due to "tidal locking".
(c) Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin were the first and the second US astronauts, respectively,
to land on the Moon on 21 Jul 1969. Subsequently, many more astronauts have stepped and
walked on the Moon.
(d) And we are, now, getting elated by the landing of our probe through the ISRO's space mission
Chandrayan-2. Almost 50 years after the successful landing of mankind on the Moon! Why
are we so late? Is it because our technology is not up to the mark? The fact that we'd suffered
delays in the making of the cryogenic rockets - very essential for space missions requiring
long endurance - because the Yanks had clamped down restrictions on India from importing
such technology under the MTCR(Missile Technology Control Regime) is a known fact.
(e) Our scientists had overcome this setback by developing our own indigenous cryogenic
engines and hence the late start! Therefore, the elation of 125 crore Indians at this spectacular
moment is palpable and justified!!
(f) Am reminded of Pink Floyd's number of '73, "The dark side of the Moon" at this juncture!
The ISRO has given the following milestones for the early morning narrative of the Moon landing
as per their news bulletin of 2200 hrs:-
All times 07 Sep '19.
* 0153 Vikram touches down at the south pole of the Moon.
* 0353 The ramp of Vikram opens up for the rover "Pragyan" to roll out.
* 0423 Pragyan motor switched on.
* 0519 Pragyan Moon Rover rolls down Vikram.
* 0554 Pragyan starts beaming pictures of the moon.
Tailpiece.
Have set the alarm for 0130 hrs, so that I can watch that historic moment. I'm sure all of you would join me. Wouldn't you?
PS.
The right rear tyre of the Chevy had a puncture, thanks to a small bolt that was embedded in it. Thankful to the car for not letting our long journey - just completed - to be hampered! The tyre was replaced with the stand by, immediately after.
Between 0130 and 0230 hrs, the lunar lander(Vikram) from the Chandrayan spacecraft would
land at the south pole of the Moon. It will be a first for a nation to have accomplished this feat.
Many thoughts come to my mind at this stage which I would like to share at this moment and
they are:-
(a) During my childhood, I used to hear that there used to be a communication blackout when a
spacecraft went 'behind' or to the 'other side of the Moon', due to limitations of the
prevalent technology then.
(b) The Moon rotates on its own axis but at exactly the right speed to keep the same face
turned towards the Earth at all times. The Moon orbits the Earth once every 27.322 days. It
also takes approximately 27 days for the Moon to rotate on its own axis. The synchronisation
is due to "tidal locking".
(c) Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin were the first and the second US astronauts, respectively,
to land on the Moon on 21 Jul 1969. Subsequently, many more astronauts have stepped and
walked on the Moon.
(d) And we are, now, getting elated by the landing of our probe through the ISRO's space mission
Chandrayan-2. Almost 50 years after the successful landing of mankind on the Moon! Why
are we so late? Is it because our technology is not up to the mark? The fact that we'd suffered
delays in the making of the cryogenic rockets - very essential for space missions requiring
long endurance - because the Yanks had clamped down restrictions on India from importing
such technology under the MTCR(Missile Technology Control Regime) is a known fact.
(e) Our scientists had overcome this setback by developing our own indigenous cryogenic
engines and hence the late start! Therefore, the elation of 125 crore Indians at this spectacular
moment is palpable and justified!!
(f) Am reminded of Pink Floyd's number of '73, "The dark side of the Moon" at this juncture!
The ISRO has given the following milestones for the early morning narrative of the Moon landing
as per their news bulletin of 2200 hrs:-
All times 07 Sep '19.
* 0153 Vikram touches down at the south pole of the Moon.
* 0353 The ramp of Vikram opens up for the rover "Pragyan" to roll out.
* 0423 Pragyan motor switched on.
* 0519 Pragyan Moon Rover rolls down Vikram.
* 0554 Pragyan starts beaming pictures of the moon.
Tailpiece.
Have set the alarm for 0130 hrs, so that I can watch that historic moment. I'm sure all of you would join me. Wouldn't you?
PS.
The right rear tyre of the Chevy had a puncture, thanks to a small bolt that was embedded in it. Thankful to the car for not letting our long journey - just completed - to be hampered! The tyre was replaced with the stand by, immediately after.
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