Chandrayaan-3 is currently into the Moon’s orbit and will attempt to safely touchdown its Vikram lander on August 23, 2023
During the Chandrayaan-2 mission, while everything went according to the plan, the last stage of the mission failed, sending Vikram lander crashing to Moon's surface in an upside-down position. Five engines generating higher thrust, limitation of the software to detect errors and the small landing site were the reason given by ISRO for the landing mishap
ISRO's Chairman S Somanath revealed that Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander has a robust design, enabling it to achieve a soft landing on the Moon even if some sensors and two of its engines fail
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During a talk on 'Chandrayaan-3: Bharat's Pride Space Mission', Somanath shared that Vikram's design ensures it can manage failures and still land safely, as long as the propulsion system functions
Somanath emphasised that Vikram's design incorporates algorithms to handle various failures, underscoring the importance of proper algorithm functioning for mission success
The ISRO chief highlighted the challenge of transitioning Vikram from a horizontal to a vertical orientation for lunar landing, a critical aspect following the previous mission's unsuccessful landing attempt
Drawing lessons from Chandrayaan-2 setback, Somanath stated that achieving a smooth transition from horizontal to vertical orientation is a key focus this time
The current mission's challenge also includes optimising fuel usage and ensuring accurate distance calculations to enable Vikram's accurate and safe landing
Somanath mentioned that the ISRO team has taken steps to ensure Vikram lands correctly even if there are slight variations in the calculations
The core challenge lies in smoothly maneuvering Vikram from a horizontal trajectory to a vertical one for the final landing, a critical manoeuvre requiring precision
The integration of well-functioning algorithms is pivotal to Vikram's ability to manage various scenarios and achieve a successful landing
Vikram's design prioritises reliability by incorporating failsafe measures, aiming to address previous mission challenges and increase the chances of a successful lunar landing