<p>Extensive studies and simulations have supplemented the design of Chandrayaan-3 to ensure its safe landing on the lunar surface, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) Chairman S Somanath said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The most critical part of the landing — scheduled for August 23 — will be reducing the lander’s velocity, Somanath said during an online lecture on the lunar mission, hosted by NGO Disha Bharat.</p><p>The lander’s velocity at the beginning of the descent (from a height of 30 km) will be almost 1.68 km per second. Its velocity at touch-down has been identified as up to three metres per second.</p>.ISRO releases Moon's video as seen from Chandrayaan-3.<p>The process of shifting the lander’s trajectory – from horizontal to vertical – involves “interesting mathematical calculations” and extensive simulations. “Here, we had a problem last time (the failed landing of Chandrayaan-2). We need to ensure that the right amount of fuel is consumed, the distance calculated is correct, and all the algorithms are working properly,” Somanath said.</p>.<p>Isro has conducted lander leg drop tests to demonstrate the stability of the lander in various touchdown conditions.</p>.<p>During the descent, at a height of 7.4 km, there will be a phase where some of the instruments are calibrated; the sensors will be verified at 800 metres or 1,300 metres. At 150 metres, a hazard verification will be done, to decide whether the lander could land vertically there itself or move laterally, to a maximum extent of 150 metres, to avoid boulders or craters.</p>.<p>The Isro Chairman said “hundreds of simulations” were done to lock the landing within the identified site which measures 4 km x 2.4 km (increased from the 0.5 km x 0.5 km site identified for Chandrayaan-2). "All locations are not safe, there are boulders and craters on the site; we will have to make local decisions on where to land,” he said.</p>.Chandrayaan-3 successfully inserted into lunar orbit, says ISRO.<p>Isro has commenced the mission’s moon-bound manoeuvres, with a retro-firing of engines on Sunday bringing the spacecraft to a 170 km x 4,313 km orbit. On Wednesday, the orbit will be further reduced and another firing, on August 14, will achieve a 100 km x 100 km orbit. On August 17, the landing module will be separated from the propulsion module, to set up the powered descent.</p>
<p>Extensive studies and simulations have supplemented the design of Chandrayaan-3 to ensure its safe landing on the lunar surface, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) Chairman S Somanath said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>The most critical part of the landing — scheduled for August 23 — will be reducing the lander’s velocity, Somanath said during an online lecture on the lunar mission, hosted by NGO Disha Bharat.</p><p>The lander’s velocity at the beginning of the descent (from a height of 30 km) will be almost 1.68 km per second. Its velocity at touch-down has been identified as up to three metres per second.</p>.ISRO releases Moon's video as seen from Chandrayaan-3.<p>The process of shifting the lander’s trajectory – from horizontal to vertical – involves “interesting mathematical calculations” and extensive simulations. “Here, we had a problem last time (the failed landing of Chandrayaan-2). We need to ensure that the right amount of fuel is consumed, the distance calculated is correct, and all the algorithms are working properly,” Somanath said.</p>.<p>Isro has conducted lander leg drop tests to demonstrate the stability of the lander in various touchdown conditions.</p>.<p>During the descent, at a height of 7.4 km, there will be a phase where some of the instruments are calibrated; the sensors will be verified at 800 metres or 1,300 metres. At 150 metres, a hazard verification will be done, to decide whether the lander could land vertically there itself or move laterally, to a maximum extent of 150 metres, to avoid boulders or craters.</p>.<p>The Isro Chairman said “hundreds of simulations” were done to lock the landing within the identified site which measures 4 km x 2.4 km (increased from the 0.5 km x 0.5 km site identified for Chandrayaan-2). "All locations are not safe, there are boulders and craters on the site; we will have to make local decisions on where to land,” he said.</p>.Chandrayaan-3 successfully inserted into lunar orbit, says ISRO.<p>Isro has commenced the mission’s moon-bound manoeuvres, with a retro-firing of engines on Sunday bringing the spacecraft to a 170 km x 4,313 km orbit. On Wednesday, the orbit will be further reduced and another firing, on August 14, will achieve a 100 km x 100 km orbit. On August 17, the landing module will be separated from the propulsion module, to set up the powered descent.</p>