Contact with Chandrayaan-1 Lost

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has lost radio contact with Chandrayaan-1 today, August 29, at 1:30 a.m. Indian Standard Time. The Chandrayaan-1 mission was declared over at this time.

Chandrayaan-1 was India's first mission to the Moon, and included an orbiter and an impactor. The impactor made India only the fourth country to place its flag on the Moon, after the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan. Chandrayaan-1 has also been a great boost to India's space program, and has provided invaluable information about the Moon. The orbiter completed 312 days in orbit, and in that time, completed more than 3400 orbits around the Moon. The mission has been cut short of the intended two year time period.

Images: ISRO


Astronomy and Space Celebrates International Year of Astronomy 2009.