High temperatures led to faulty thermal protection.

India’s first Moon mission became casualty of unforeseen high temperatures that led to faulty thermal protection.

In May this year, the orbit of the spacecraft was raised to 200kms from 100 kms from the surface of the Moon. It was done for a better view and to enable further studies on orbit perturbations, gravitational field variation of the Moon and also enable imaging of the lunar surface with a wider swath.

the orbit was raised to escape the surface heat which was above 75 degrees Celsius. It was this that led to the failure of two star censors in July. These censors were responsible for the orientation of Chandrayaan and the scientists were operating the spacecraft using ingenious ways.

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