Learning From Chandrayaan-2 Mission, ISRO Makes Major Design Change To Chandrayaan-3 Lander

After the Chandrayaan-2 lander's unsuccessful attempt to soft-land on Moon's surface, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to make a major design change in the lander of its next proposed lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, reports Times of India.

The Indian space agency is expected to launch its third mission to Moon in 2021.

The overseeing committee of the mission has reportedly finalised a design change after which the lander will have just four engines, as opposed to the five engines on Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander.

The committee has decided to drop the fifth engine that was added last minute on Vikram lander and the lander for next moon mission will now have only four engines, a scientist was quoted in the report as saying.

The committee has also suggested a minor modification on the legs of the lander but it was yet to be approved, another scientist said.

According to the report, ISRO's move to drop the fifth/central engine is the latest on the mission and is significant as this additional engine was added to Vikram lander after simulations found it to be crucial for dealing with dust storms that could have been kicked up when the lander nears the lunar surface, affecting its stability.

ISRO chairman K Sivan was quoted in the report as saying that earlier analysis had estimated that the dusts would cause trouble but now the space agency's analysis has shown that it would not be a problem.

After the new analysis, it was decided to remove the fifth engine from the lander.

It should be noted that unlike the Chandrayaan-2, which carried an Orbiter, lander and rover, the Chandrayaan-3 will only carry a lander and rover.