The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said that it opted for a “failure-based design” in Chandrayaan-3, its third lunar mission. This means that the design of the mission has been focused on what all can go wrong and how to protect it and ensure a successful landing.
The “failure-based design” approach has been used in other space missions, such as the Mars Pathfinder mission by NASA. In the Mars Pathfinder mission, the lander was equipped with a number of safety features to protect it from potential failures. For example, the lander had a parachute that could be deployed if the main engine failed, and it also had a system that could detect and correct any problems with the landing trajectory.
Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somanath on Monday said instead of a success-based design in Chandrayaan-2, the space agency opted for a failure-based design in Chandrayaan-3, focused on what all can fail and how to protect it and ensure a successful landing.
“We looked at very many failures – sensor failure, engine failure, algorithm failure, calculation failure. So, whatever the failure we want it to land at the required speed and rate,” he said.
The ISRO is confident that the “failure-based design” approach will help to ensure the success of Chandrayaan-3. The space agency has been testing the lander and rover extensively, and it is confident that they are ready for the mission.
What Is Chandrayaan-3?
Chandrayaan-3 is a third lunar exploration mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, which failed to land on the moon in September 2019 due to a software glitch.
Chandrayaan-3 will consist of a lander and a rover similar to Chandrayaan-2, but would not have an orbiter. Its propulsion module will behave like a communication relay satellite. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration until the spacecraft is in a 100 km lunar orbit.
.The main objectives of Chandrayaan-3 are:
- To demonstrate safe and soft landing on the surface of the Moon.
- Observing and demonstrating the rover’s loitering capabilities on the Moon.
In-site scientific observation making scientific experiments on the chemical and natural elements, soil, water, etc. available on the surface of the Moon to better understand and practice the composition of the Moon. Interplanetary refers to the development and demonstration of new technologies required for missions between two planets.
- The launch of Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for July 14, 2023. The mission will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
- If Chandrayaan-3 is successful, it will be a major achievement for ISRO. The mission will help to further our understanding of the moon, and it will also pave the way for future lunar missions.
Here are some of the key differences between Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3:
- Chandrayaan-3 will not have an orbiter.
- Chandrayaan-3 will have a “failure-based design” approach to ensure a successful landing.
- Chandrayaan-3 will carry a payload called Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE), which the previous mission did not have.
The launch of Chandrayaan-3 is scheduled for July 14, 2023. The mission will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
If Chandrayaan-3 is successful, it will be a major achievement for ISRO. The mission will help to further our understanding of the moon, and it will also pave the way for future lunar missions.