New Delhi, Aug 09 : S. Somanath, the head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), confirmed on Tuesday that Vikram, the lander for India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is poised for a gentle touchdown on the Moon’s surface on August 23. Remarkably, this landing capability remains intact even in the event of engine failure.
During a discussion titled “Chandrayaan-3: Bharat’s Pride Space Mission,” organized by the NGO Disha Bharat, Somanath assured that the soft landing would be achieved even if the lander’s sensors and two of its engines were to malfunction.
The primary challenge faced by the ISRO team lies in maneuvering Vikram horizontally onto the lunar surface while maintaining a vertical orientation, he noted.
Somanath explained, “Upon separation from the orbiter, the lander will execute horizontal movement. Through a series of carefully orchestrated maneuvers, Vikram will be transitioned into a vertical position to ensure a safe landing on the Moon.”
He acknowledged that the critical aspect involves shifting from a horizontal to a vertical trajectory. This transition had presented problems in the past mission.
Referring to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, Somanath acknowledged ISRO’s inability to achieve a safe touchdown with its lander, Vikram, on the Moon’s surface. He underscored that the design of the new lander, also named ‘Vikram’, is specifically engineered to handle such failures.
“In the worst-case scenario, where all sensors fail and nothing operates, Vikram, the lander, will execute a gentle landing, assuming the propulsion system functions as intended,” he emphasized.
Chandrayaan-3’s mission journey commenced on July 14. After its launch into space, it successfully entered lunar orbit on August 5. A series of three de-orbiting maneuvers are planned for August 9, 14, and 16 to reduce the craft’s orbit to 100 km x 100 km above the Moon’s surface.
This adjustment aims to position the craft for landing on August 23. Following the deboosting process, which slows down the lander, the lander propulsion module separation will be initiated, paving the way for the lunar surface landing on August 23, according to ISRO’s chief.
Somanath also highlighted the challenge of optimizing fuel consumption. He stated that the ISRO team ensured Vikram’s readiness for a proper landing, even accounting for variations in calculations.
The ambitious mission seeks to advance India’s capabilities in space exploration and lunar research.
