India's ISRO Learns from Chandrayaan 2 to Overcome "20 Minutes of Terror"

August 23, 2023: India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is learning from the lessons of its Chandrayaan 2 mission to overcome the “20 minutes of terror” that every lunar landing mission faces.

The “20 minutes of terror” refers to the period during which a lunar lander descended to the moon’s surface. During this time, the lander travels at high speeds and is vulnerable to several hazards, such as dust storms and rocks.

The Chandrayaan 2 mission experienced a setback during the “20 minutes of terror” when its Vikram lander lost contact with ground control and crashed. ISRO is now working to improve its lander technology to prevent such a failure from happening again.

One of the critical changes ISRO is making is using a new type of lander called the Pragyan. The Pragyan is smaller and lighter than the Vikram lander, making it more maneuverable and less susceptible to damage.

ISRO is also making changes to the way it controls its landers. The agency is developing new software that will allow it to monitor the landers better and make real-time adjustments to their trajectories.

ISRO is confident that these changes will help it overcome the “20 minutes of terror” and successfully land a lander on the moon.

Here are some of the key takeaways from this article:

• The “20 minutes of terror” is critical for any lunar landing mission.
• ISRO is learning from the lessons of its Chandrayaan 2 mission to improve its lander technology.
• The Pragyan lander is smaller and lighter than the Vikram lander, making it more maneuverable and less susceptible to damage.
• ISRO is developing new software to monitor and control its landers.

What does this mean for the future?

The changes that ISRO is making are a positive step towards ensuring the success of future lunar landing missions. The Pragyan lander and the new software are promising technologies that could help ISRO overcome the “20 minutes of terror” and achieve its goal of landing a lander on the moon.

The successful landing of a lander on the moon would be a significant achievement for ISRO and India. It would also be an important step forward in the exploration of space.