The Tragic Moon Landing of India's Vikram Lander and Lessons Learned

On September 7, 2019, the Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan-2 mission embarked on a mission to the Moon, with the hopes of making India one of three nations to successfully land on the lunar surface. However, the mission met a tragic end, crashing into the Moon's surface instead of performing a soft landing. The failure of the Vikram lander has been a topic of speculation, with many hypothesizing the reasons behind the crash and seeking answers to aid future moon landing missions.

Reasons for the Vikram Lander Crash

Unfortunately, the exact reasons for the Vikram lander's crash can only be speculated about, as it is not within our current capacity to know for sure. Dr. K. Sivan, the then chairman of ISRO, maintained that the failure was a result of a communication lapse during the landing process. However, many have offered their hypotheses based on the available data and knowledge of moon landings.

Hypothesis of the Vikram Lander Crash

Dr. Chandra Kant (CK) proposed a hypothesis regarding the potential failure of the Vikram lander. According to his hypothesis, the lander was equipped with several surface sensors and a gyroscope to stabilize its position and balance it during the landing. However, during the thruster burns and heat dissipation, the lander's sensors and transmitters were damaged due to the lack of an atmosphere on the Moon. This damage would have broken the communication link with Earth and led to an imbalance in the lander's position, ultimately resulting in its crash.

Importance of the Vikram Lander Mission

The Vikram lander mission would have been a significant achievement for India, adding its name to the list of countries that have successfully landed on the Moon. The rover, Pragyan, was designed to explore the lunar surface and potentially discover ice water and other scientific discoveries. The success of the mission would have boosted ISRO's future projects and put India in a better position in the field of space science. Achieving this milestone would have also brought pride to the Indian government, particularly the Prime Minister, and enhanced the success of foreign visits.

Lessons Learned from the Vikram Lander Crash

The failure of the Vikram lander serves as a valuable learning experience for future missions. Space agencies, such as NASA, ESA, and ISRO, continually refine and improve their spacecraft designs based on the insights gained from previous missions. The importance of precision in spacecraft design, oversight, and communication during critical stages such as landing cannot be overstated.

Moreover, the lack of atmosphere on the Moon complicates the heat dissipation process, as the Moon lacks the ability to transfer heat effectively. Understanding and mitigating these challenges are crucial for the success of future moon missions.

While the Vikram lander crash was a setback, it serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in space exploration. It highlights the importance of continued research, innovation, and collaboration amongst international space agencies in achieving our space exploration goals.