The pivotal decision regarding Chandrayaan-3's landing on August 23 rests on the lander module's health and lunar conditions, said an ISRO scientist. Nilesh M Desai, Director of Space Applications Centre-ISRO, Ahmedabad has explained the reason behind the possible shift of the landing date.
According to Desai, if conditions become unfavourable, there's a possibility of delaying the landing to August 27, thus adapting the Plan B, which is based on favourable circumstances.
Two hours before Chandrayaan-3's scheduled lunar landing on August 23, the crucial landing decision is likely to be made. The criticality of precise timing is really important for a successful outcome.
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There is a vital emphasis on monitoring the lander module's health, ensuring its readiness for the crucial landing attempt.
The lunar landscape's conditions also play a big role in determining the landing feasibility, evaluating lunar surface and atmospheric factors.
In case any aspect is deemed unfavourable, the landing might be postponed to August 27, ensuring meticulous planning for a successful outcome.
Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair has stressed on the complexity of the Vikram lander’s manoeuvre. He highlighted the necessity for flawless coordination among various systems without any delay in communication between the scientists on ground and the Vikram lander.
A successful landing will signal the commencement of an impactful chapter in ISRO’s planetary exploration phase, which is potentially a big leap towards a significant scientific progress.
Reflecting on Chandrayaan-2's near-miss experience, ISRO is focusing on the need for impeccable synergy among thrusters, sensors, software, and more technological systems that are placed on the Vikram lander for a triumphant outcome.
As per the latest update by ISRO, the conditions currently seem favourable for a landing on August 23. The Indian space agency will try to land Chandrayaan-3 at 6:04 PM on Wednesday. However, the final decision to land on August 23 or August 27 will be taken 2 hours before the scheduled landing on August 23.