Vikram, the lander of India’s upcoming lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, has been meticulously designed to handle potential failures during its landing on the Moon’s surface, according to S Somanath, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In a recent talk titled ‘Chandrayaan-3: Bharat’s Pride Space Mission’, hosted by the non-profit organisation Disha Bharat, Somanath revealed that Vikram’s design ensures a safe landing even if all sensors and two engines fail.
Highlighting the mission’s resilience, Somanath stated, “If everything fails, if all the sensors fail, nothing works, still it (Vikram) will make a landing. That’s how it has been designed—provided that the propulsion system works well.”
Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14 and entered lunar orbit on August 5. The upcoming manoeuvres include three de-orbiting exercises scheduled for August 9, August 14, and August 16. These manoeuvres are intended to gradually reduce the spacecraft’s orbit to prepare for Vikram’s soft landing on the Moon’s surface, planned for August 23.
Somanath explained that a crucial aspect of the mission is transitioning Vikram from a horizontal position, which it assumes after separating from the orbiter, to a vertical stance for landing. This manoeuvre is particularly challenging, as it proved problematic during the Chandrayaan-2 mission, where the lander was unable to make a successful landing.
In addition to the landing challenges, Somanath highlighted the payloads onboard Vikram and the rover ‘Pragyan’. The lander will carry four payloads, including instruments for measuring thermal properties of the lunar surface and studying seismic activity. The rover ‘Pragyan’ will carry three payloads, including tools for analysing the chemical and mineralogical composition of lunar soil and rocks.
Despite the technical complexities and challenges, ISRO has taken measures to enhance the mission’s success rate. Somanath mentioned that Vikram is designed to account for variations in calculations and will strive to achieve a safe landing, even under such conditions.
As India prepares for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, ISRO’s dedication to innovation and resilience underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and contributing to our understanding of the Moon’s mysteries.
