In a monumental leap towards advancing lunar exploration, the Chandrayaan-3 mission has set forth ambitious objectives that underscore India's prowess in space technology. The mission's triumvirate goals encompass demonstrating safe and soft lunar surface landing, showcasing rover mobility, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments.
Central to these objectives is the Lander, an embodiment of cutting-edge technologies poised to unlock new frontiers in space exploration. This intricate system encompasses a host of advanced components meticulously designed to achieve its mission mandates.
The Lander is outfitted with a duo of altimeters – one employing laser technology and the other radio frequency (RF) – to precisely gauge altitude above the lunar terrain. This capability is essential for ensuring a secure and gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. Meanwhile, laser Doppler velocimeters and a Lander Horizontal Velocity Camera work in unison to assess the Lander's speed, vital for achieving controlled rover roving.
The Lander's inertial measurement system employs laser gyro-based referencing and an accelerometer package. These elements facilitate precise positioning and navigation, contributing to the mission's overall success. The propulsion system, a marvel in its own right, integrates 800N throttleable liquid engines, 58N attitude thrusters, and sophisticated throttleable engine control electronics. This propulsion prowess enables intricate maneuvers necessary for lunar operations.
Navigation, guidance, and control are orchestrated through meticulously designed powered descent trajectory software, ensuring accurate and safe landing procedures. A remarkable achievement is the Lander's hazard detection and avoidance capability, driven by a sophisticated camera and processing algorithm. This system plays a pivotal role in identifying potential hazards during descent.
Notably, Chandrayaan-3's technological marvels have undergone rigorous testing on Earth. Integrated cold tests, utilizing helicopters as platforms, validated sensor integration and navigation performance. Integrated hot tests, conducted using tower cranes, affirmed closed-loop functionality involving sensors, actuators, and the navigation, guidance, and control subsystem.
Furthermore, the Lander's landing leg mechanism underwent comprehensive performance assessments on a simulated lunar surface, simulating a spectrum of touch-down conditions.
With its ambitious objectives and a suite of groundbreaking technologies, Chandrayaan-3 is poised to illuminate the path forward for lunar exploration, firmly establishing India's indelible mark in the realm of space exploration.
