What happened to Chandrayaan 2 Vikram Lander? We delve into the events surrounding the Chandrayaan 2 mission and the fate of the Vikram lander in its quest to explore the Moon.
Chandrayaan 2
Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It consists of an orbiter, a lander named Vikram and a rover called Pragyan.
Launched on July 22, 2019 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center, the spacecraft aimed to study the composition of the lunar surface and the presence of water on the moon. After arriving in lunar orbit on August 20, 2019, the lander began its descent towards the south polar region of the Moon for a planned landing on September 6, 2019. However, a software error caused the lander to deviate from its planned trajectory, resulting in a collision.
Despite the unfortunate outcome of the landing attempt, Chandrayaan-2 provided valuable insights and information. It served as an important step in India’s space exploration efforts and showcased the nation’s technological capabilities.
The primary science objective of the mission was to map and analyze variations in the composition of the lunar surface and to identify the location and abundance of lunar water. ISRO, determined to continue its lunar exploration, is planning a subsequent landing mission called Chandrayaan-3, scheduled for 2023.
Lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2 will inform the development and success of future lunar missions, further advancing our understanding of the Moon and its resources.
What happened to the Chandrayaan 2 Vikram Lander?
During the Chandrayaan-2 mission, the Vikram lander, named after Vikram Sarabhai, met with an unfortunate outcome. After separation from the orbiter and descent into low lunar orbit, it was intended to perform a soft landing on the surface of the moon. The main objective of the lander was to deploy the Pragyan rover and conduct scientific activities for approximately 14 Earth days.
However, during a landing attempt on September 6, 2019, Vikram deviated from its planned trajectory and crashed on the lunar surface. The crash was caused by a software error that caused the lander to lose control and deviate from the planned landing path. The exact cause of the failure was identified in the failure analysis report submitted to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
Despite the crash, the Vikram lander played a significant role in the Chandrayaan-2 mission. It is designed with a propulsion system consisting of eight thrusters for attitude control and five liquid main engines derived from ISRO’s liquid apogee engine. The Lender underwent preliminary configuration studies in 2013, and engineering models were extensively tested to ensure its functionality.
The lander’s payload included a variety of advanced technologies, such as high-definition cameras, a laser altimeter (LASA), hazard detection and avoidance cameras, position detection cameras, position thrusters, Ka-band radio altimeters, a laser inertial reference package, and an accelerometer ( LIRAP ), and the necessary software to manage these components. These technologies were intended to help map the lunar surface and conduct scientific experiments.
The Vikram Lender had special design features to improve its landing capabilities. It is built for safe landing on slopes with a slope of up to 12 degrees. An additional fixed-thrust centrally mounted engine was included to meet the requirement for lunar orbit and to mitigate the effects of lunar dust during a soft landing.
The dimensions of the lander were approximately 2.54 m × 2 m × 1.2 m, and its total mass was approximately 1471 kg. It carried 845 kg of propellant and had a dry mass of 626 kg. The lander was designed to generate 650 watts of power and had a mission duration of up to 14 days, which corresponds to one lunar day.
The crash of the Vikram lander was a setback for the Chandrayaan-2 mission, but it provided valuable lessons and insights for future lunar exploration. ISRO has since moved forward with plans to launch Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, with the aim of trying to land on the moon again.
The knowledge gained from the Chandrayaan-2 mission, including analysis of the crash of the Vikram lander, will contribute to the continued development of India’s space program and further progress in lunar exploration.
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Who is Vikram Lander?
Vikram Lander is the name of the lander component of the Chandrayaan-2 mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It is named after Vikram Sarabhai, a prominent cosmic ray scientist who is widely recognized as the founder of India’s space program.
The lander played a key role in the mission by attempting to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface and launching the Pragyan rover for scientific research. With a total mass of approximately 1,471 kg, the Vikram Lander was equipped with various propulsion systems, including thrusters and liquid main engines, to control attitude and maneuver during descent.
It has undergone rigorous engineering and configuration studies, including advanced technologies such as high-resolution cameras, hazard detection and avoidance cameras, and location detection cameras. These instruments are designed to facilitate scientific observations and data collection during the planned 14-day duration of the mission.
Unfortunately, while attempting to land on the lunar surface, the Vikram Lander encountered a software error and crashed instead of making a successful soft landing.
Despite this setback, the Vikram Lander remains a significant part of India’s space exploration history, highlighting the nation’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and exploration beyond Earth.
Chandrayaan 2 design
Chandrayaan-2, the lunar mission undertaken by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), was designed with careful planning and engineering. It consisted of three main components: an orbiter, a lander called Vikram and a rover named Pragyan.
The mission was launched using the Mark III (GSLV Mk III) M1 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Center. The orbiter, with a launch mass of approximately 2,379 kg, carries eight science instruments, including an enhanced version of the Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC) used in the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission.
It operates in a polar orbit at an altitude of 100 km around the Moon. The orbiter structure was manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and supplied to the ISRO Satellite Centre.
The Vikram lander, named after the famous scientist Vikram Sarabhai, played a key role in the mission. It underwent extensive design and configuration studies, including features such as eight thrusters for attitude control and five liquid-powered main engines.
The lander was intended to perform a soft landing on the lunar surface, enabling the Pragyan rover to be deployed. However, during the landing attempt, a software error caused the lander to veer off course and crash on the moon.
The overall design of Chandrayaan-2 demonstrated India’s technological capabilities and commitment to lunar exploration. Despite the lander failure, the mission provided valuable insights and data for future efforts.
The successful deployment and operation of the orbiter demonstrated India’s progress in space technology as it continued to orbit the Moon and conduct scientific observations.
Complex mission design and engineering, along with extensive testing and preparations, contributed to India’s growing reputation in space exploration and paved the way for future missions, including Chandrayaan-3.
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education