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| Vikram lander | |
|---|---|
| Name | Vikram |
| Operator | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| Mission type | Lunar lander |
| Manufacturer | Indian Space Research Organisation |
| Launch date | 2019-07-22 |
| Launch mass | 1471 kg |
| Payload mass | 25 kg |
| Status | Crashed during landing attempt |
Vikram lander
Vikram lander was the propulsion and descent module of the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. Intended to perform a soft landing near the lunar south pole, Vikram formed part of a three-part mission alongside the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and the Pragyan rover. The project linked India's ambitions to earlier lunar programs such as Chandrayaan-1, while drawing on international interactions with agencies like NASA, Roscosmos, and European Space Agency.
Vikram served as the descent and landing element of Chandrayaan-2, designed to achieve a powered descent to the lunar surface and deploy the Pragyan rover. The lander program was overseen by the Indian Space Research Organisation from facilities including the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network. Vikram's objectives connected to scientific aims pursued by missions like Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Chang'e 4, seeking to study the lunar south pole region and complement findings from Chandrayaan-1's instruments such as the Moon Impact Probe.
Vikram's architecture included a propulsion module, a descent stage, structural elements, avionics, and power systems. The lander had an inert mass and fuel load consistent with earlier landers such as Surveyor and concepts from Lunar Module studies, while integrating advances from Mars Orbiter Mission and the Indian Deep Space Network's tracking capabilities. Key components comprised a set of throttleable engines, radar altimeter, inertial measurement units similar in heritage to units used on GSAT and INSAT platforms, and solar panels derived from ISRO satellite practice. The design had thermal control systems influenced by cooperative work with agencies like CNES and JAXA on planetary lander technologies.
Chandrayaan-2, carrying Vikram, launched aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 22 July 2019. The mission followed a series of Earth-bound maneuvers used by missions such as Mars Orbiter Mission to achieve translunar injection, then entered lunar orbit to conduct orbital science like Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and SELENE (Kaguya). During the campaign, the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter operated instruments reminiscent of payloads on Chandrayaan-1 and coordinated communications relay for Vikram and Pragyan, while ISRO teams at UR Rao Satellite Centre and the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network performed flight dynamics and mission planning tasks.
On 6 September 2019, Vikram initiated its descent sequence to attempt a soft landing in a region near the lunar south pole, a site of interest to missions including Luna 24 and Chang'e 4. During the final phase, telemetry indicated deviations in the descent profile; spacecraft controllers at ISRO lost contact shortly before the planned touchdown. Search and reconnaissance by the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and analysis using imagery from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and data from NASA assets confirmed that Vikram impacted the lunar surface. The event prompted comparisons with previous landing challenges faced by Beagle 2 and investigations similar to aftermaths of Soviet Luna mission anomalies.
Vikram carried scientific and engineering payloads intended to support surface operations and coordinate with the Pragyan rover. Instruments included descent cameras and sensors analogous to those used on Surveyor and Viking programs, communication suites for links with the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and ground stations, and environmental monitoring sensors influenced by experiments flown on Chandrayaan-1 and Mars Orbiter Mission. The Pragyan rover, stowed on Vikram, was equipped with instruments to conduct in-situ mineralogical analyses, referencing techniques used in Curiosity (rover) and Luna-Glob concepts.
Following the impact, ISRO initiated an investigation with inputs from entities such as Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and international partners including NASA advisory inputs. Analysis focused on telemetry reconstruction, simulation studies using heritage from ISRO missions, and hardware review reminiscent of post-flight inquiries after Mars Polar Lander and Beagle 2. Despite the loss, lessons informed subsequent projects including Chandrayaan-3 and propelled enhancements in lander guidance, navigation, control, and testing procedures. The mission's orbiter continued to conduct lunar science, contributing to datasets alongside Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Kaguya that benefit researchers at institutions such as Indian Space Research Organisation research centers and academic partners, shaping India's role in international lunar exploration programs like Artemis-era collaborations.
Category:Indian Space Research Organisation missions Category:Lunar landers