The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is working to salvage what it can from its first attempt to soft-land on the Moon, which ended with its Vikram lander resting on its side, silent but intact, on the surface.ISRO was reserved in its official comments in the days following the loss of contact, which occurred Sept. 6 at 4:24 p.m. EDT while the lander was in the final stages of its drama-filled powered descent, 2.5 km (1.6 mi.) above its south-pole landing target dividing the Manzinus C and Simpelius N craters at 70 deg. south latitude.The plan was for Vikram and the small Pragyan rover-which was to emerge from the lander a few hours after touchdown-to survey the region for one lunar day, or two Earth weeks, working in concert with the Chandrayaan-2 polar orbit-er that carried them from Earth following its July 22 launch. India hoped to join China, the former Soviet Union and the U.S. as one of the few countries to successfully soft-land on the Moon-a key ability for future planetary exploration.Any hope of even reduced lunar surface activities was dampened by the approach of lunar night, when temperatures drop close to a paralyzing minus 200C (390F).
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