Science
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander Has An Inbuilt "Salvage Mode" Which Will Help It Land Even If Everything Goes Wrong
The Chandrayaan-3 lander inside the anechoic chamber with various configurations for different tests. (Photo: ISRO).
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander has a built-in "salvage mode" that allows it to land safely even in the event of unexpected issues, according to an aerospace scientist.
Significant improvements have been made following the failure of Chandrayaan-2, and there is complete confidence in the safe landing of Chandrayaan-3.
The failure of Chandrayaan-2 was attributed to the Vikram lander's inability to control its speed, causing it to tumble.
However, this issue has been addressed through the correction of an algorithm failure. The legs of the Vikram lander have also been made more robust, ensuring greater stability during landing.
Professor Radhakant Padhi, an aerospace scientist from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, has been actively involved in both the Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions. The Aerospace department of the institute is also contributing to the moon mission, further enhancing its expertise and capabilities.
Reflecting on the past, Professor Padhi noted that scientists at the Indian space agency (ISRO) were overly confident during the Chandrayaan-2 mission. However, the design philosophy behind Chandrayaan-3 is to ensure a successful landing even in the face of unexpected challenges, leaving no room for complacency, as reported by NDTV.
Radhakant Padhi expressed confidence in the success of the lander, stating that Chandrayaan-3 is designed to be more robust with six "sigma bounds."
Professor Padhi assured that Chandrayaan-3 has undergone rigorous stress testing, with ISRO addressing all known unknowns.
According to Professor Padhi, it is impossible to replicate lunar conditions on Earth. However, the Vikram Lander is equipped with hazard detection capabilities to identify the optimal landing site.
Highlighting an improvement from Chandrayaan-2, Professor Padhi mentioned that the Vikram Lander now features two on-board computers. He expressed a high level of confidence, stating that he is "99.9%" certain that the Vikram Lander will perform as expected.
The Chandrayaan-3's lander has captured the latest images of the Moon, revealing some prominent craters.
These images were taken by a camera specifically designed to assist the Vikram lander in identifying a safe landing area. This is crucial as the Vikram lander is set to make a historic touchdown on the unexplored lunar south polar region on Wednesday (23 August) evening.
At 6.04 pm on Wednesday, the lander is scheduled to touch down on the Moon's south polar region.
If successful, India will join the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China as the fourth country to achieve this remarkable feat.
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