DOCSLIB.ORG

Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander User’s Guide for NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander This document is consistent with NASA Request for Proposal (RFP), Solicitation No. 80HQTR18R0011R, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). This User’s Guide reflects our best estimates as of the date it is published. Note that DSS has also proposed a Medium Class Lander with and without a Mobility option. There is a separate User’s Guide for the Medium Class Lander. Please go to the Deep Space Systems website for the latest versions of the CLPS User’s Guides: https://www.deepspacesystems.com/ DSS Document #:: DSS CLPS Small Lunar Lander User Guide Initial Release October 30, 2019 User’s Guide for NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander NASA Contract 80HQTR19D0007 User’s Guide for NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander NASA Contract 80HQTR19D0007 Submitted by: Deep Space Systems 8100 Shaffer Parkway Unit 130 Littleton, CO 80127-4124 Submitted to: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CLPS Program Office Johnson Space Center Attention: Chris Culbert Phone: 281-483-8080 Email: [email protected] Submitted on: TBD DSS Technical Point of Contact: DSS Contracts Point of Contact: Dr Matthew Allen Connie McCord Mission/System Engineering Lead Director of Contracts Deep Space Systems Deep Space Systems 8100 Shaffer Parkway 8100 Shaffer Parkway Unit 130 Unit 130 Littleton, CO 80127 Littleton, CO 80127 [email protected] 720-572-7515 (office) [email protected] PROPRIETARY DATA STATEMENT: This User’s Guide does NOT contain Deep Space Systems proprietary data and may be distributed freely. DSS proprietary data will be explicitly marked as such on all applicable pages. Customer or User proprietary data provided to DSS must be so marked and should be accompanied by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) if applicable. ITAR/EAR: This document does NOT contain technical data that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). DSS will not provide ITAR or EAR information to Customers or Users without the appropriate export license or Technical Assistance Agreements in place. Export of technical data to foreign persons or foreign entities inside or outside of the United States requires prior written authorization by the U. S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. Violations of these export regulations are subject to severe criminal penalties. ii Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander 8/30/2019 DSS SLL User’s Guide User’s Guide for NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander NASA Contract 80HQTR19D0007 Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x REVISION HISTORY.................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 User’s Guide Description ................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Commercial Delivery Services ............................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Government Delivery Services ............................................................................... 2 1.1.3 Payload Development Services............................................................................... 3 1.1.4 Mission Data Products and Services ....................................................................... 3 1.2 Payload Integration Overview ......................................................................................... 3 2.0 Mission and System Description .................................................................................. 9 2.1 Launch Operations ......................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Lunar Transfer Options .................................................................................................. 15 2.2.1 Indirect Lunar Transfer ......................................................................................... 16 2.2.2 Direct Lunar Transfer ........................................................................................... 16 2.2.3 Low-Energy Lunar Transfer ................................................................................. 16 2.3 Lunar Orbit Operations Options .................................................................................... 17 2.3.1 Lunar Orbit Payload Delivery Options ................................................................. 17 2.3.2 Lunar Orbit Mission Examples ............................................................................. 18 2.3.3 Option for Multiple Landers per Launch .............................................................. 18 2.4 Descent and Landing...................................................................................................... 19 2.4.1 Performance Optimized Landing .......................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Precision Landing at a Specific Site ..................................................................... 20 2.4.3 Landing Approach and Hazard Avoidance Methods ............................................ 21 2.4.4 Landing Orientation and Attitude ......................................................................... 21 2.5 Payload Mass Performance Options and Considerations .............................................. 22 2.5.1 Landed Payload Mass Capability vs. Transfer Options ........................................ 22 2.5.2 Orbital Payload Mass Capability .......................................................................... 22 2.5.3 Mixed Orbital and Landed Payload Capability .................................................... 23 2.5.4 Landing Site and Landing Approach Selection .................................................... 24 2.6 Flight Operations ........................................................................................................... 25 2.6.1 Mission Operations Center ................................................................................... 25 2.6.2 Flight Operations Process ..................................................................................... 26 2.6.3 Navigation ............................................................................................................. 26 2.6.4 Maneuver Planning and Execution ....................................................................... 27 2.7 Surface Operations ......................................................................................................... 27 2.7.1 Payload Surface Operations .................................................................................. 27 2.7.2 Lunar Night Operations ........................................................................................ 28 3.0 Definition of Environments ........................................................................................ 29 3.1 Preflight Environments .................................................................................................. 29 3.1.1 Storage .................................................................................................................. 29 3.1.2 Integration ............................................................................................................. 29 3.1.3 Transportation ....................................................................................................... 29 3.2 Launch through Separation Do No Harm Environments ............................................... 29 iii Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander 8/30/2019 DSS SLL User’s Guide User’s Guide for NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deep Space Systems Small Lunar Lander NASA Contract 80HQTR19D0007 3.2.1 Acoustic Environment .......................................................................................... 29 3.2.2 Vibration ............................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3 Shock..................................................................................................................... 32 3.2.4 Thermal ................................................................................................................. 32 3.2.5 Pressure Change and Venting ............................................................................... 35 3.2.6 Contamination Control.......................................................................................... 35 3.2.7 Foreign Object Debris Control.............................................................................. 36 3.2.8 Electromagnetic Compatibility During Launch .................................................... 36 3.3 Trans-Lunar through Lunar Surface Flight Environments ............................................ 36 3.3.1 Design Specification
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Project Selene: AIAA Lunar Base Camp
    Project Selene: AIAA Lunar Base Camp AIAA Space Mission System 2019-2020 Virginia Tech Aerospace Engineering Faculty Advisor : Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh Team Members : Olivia Arthur, Bobby Aselford, Michel Becker, Patrick Crandall, Heidi Engebreth, Maedini Jayaprakash, Logan Lark, Nico Ortiz, Matthew Pieczynski, Brendan Ventura Member AIAA Number Member AIAA Number And Signature And Signature Faculty Advisor 25807 Dr. Kevin Shinpaugh Brendan Ventura 1109196 Matthew Pieczynski 936900 Team Lead/Operations Logan Lark 902106 Heidi Engebreth 1109232 Structures & Environment Patrick Crandall 1109193 Olivia Arthur 999589 Power & Thermal Maedini Jayaprakash 1085663 Robert Aselford 1109195 CCDH/Operations Michel Becker 1109194 Nico Ortiz 1109533 Attitude, Trajectory, Orbits and Launch Vehicles Contents 1 Symbols and Acronyms 8 2 Executive Summary 9 3 Preface and Introduction 13 3.1 Project Management . 13 3.2 Problem Definition . 14 3.2.1 Background and Motivation . 14 3.2.2 RFP and Description . 14 3.2.3 Project Scope . 15 3.2.4 Disciplines . 15 3.2.5 Societal Sectors . 15 3.2.6 Assumptions . 16 3.2.7 Relevant Capital and Resources . 16 4 Value System Design 17 4.1 Introduction . 17 4.2 Analytical Hierarchical Process . 17 4.2.1 Longevity . 18 4.2.2 Expandability . 19 4.2.3 Scientific Return . 19 4.2.4 Risk . 20 4.2.5 Cost . 21 5 Initial Concept of Operations 21 5.1 Orbital Analysis . 22 5.2 Launch Vehicles . 22 6 Habitat Location 25 6.1 Introduction . 25 6.2 Region Selection . 25 6.3 Locations of Interest . 26 6.4 Eliminated Locations . 26 6.5 Remaining Locations . 27 6.6 Chosen Location .
    [Show full text]
  • Astronomy News KW RASC FRIDAY JANUARY 8 2021
    Astronomy News KW RASC FRIDAY JANUARY 8 2021 JIM FAIRLES What to expect for spaceflight and astronomy in 2021 https://astronomy.com/news/2021/01/what-to-expect-for- spaceflight-and-astronomy-in-2021 By Corey S. Powell | Published: Monday, January 4, 2021 Whatever craziness may be happening on Earth, the coming year promises to be a spectacular one across the solar system. 2020 - It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. First landing on the lunar farside, two impressive successes in gathering samples from asteroids, the first new pieces of the Moon brought home in 44 years, close-up explorations of the Sun, and major advances in low-cost reusable rockets. First Visit to Jupiter's Trojan Asteroids First Visit to Jupiter's Trojan Asteroids In October, NASA is set to launch the Lucy spacecraft. Over its 12-year primary mission, Lucy will visit eight different asteroids. One target lies in the asteroid belt. The other seven are so-called Trojan asteroids that share an orbit with Jupiter, trapped in points of stability 60 degrees ahead of or behind the planet as it goes around the sun. These objects have been trapped in their locations for billions of years, probably since the time of the formation of the solar system. They contain preserved samples of water-rich and carbon-rich material in the outer solar system; some of that material formed Jupiter, while other bits moved inward to contribute to Earth's life-sustaining composition. As a whimsical aside: When meteorites strike carbon-rich asteroids, they create tiny carbon crystals.
    [Show full text]
  • Concept for a Crewed Lunar Lander Operating from the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway
    69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Bremen, Germany, 1-5 October 2018. Copyright © 2018 by Lockheed Martin Corporation. Published by the IAF, with permission and released to the IAF to publish in all forms. IAC-18.A5.1.4x46653 Concept for a Crewed Lunar Lander Operating from the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway Timothy Cichana*, Stephen A. Baileyb, Adam Burchc, Nickolas W. Kirbyd aSpace Exploration Architect, P.O. Box 179, MS H3005, Lockheed Martin Space, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. 80201, [email protected] bPresident, 8100 Shaffer Parkway, Unit 130, Deep Space Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colorado, 80127-4124, [email protected] cDesign Engineer / Graphic Artist, 8341 Sangre de Christo Rd, Deep Space Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colorado, 80127, [email protected] dSystems Engineer, Advanced Programs, P.O. Box 179, MS H3005, Lockheed Martin Space, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. 80201, [email protected] * Corresponding Author Abstract Lockheed Martin is working with NASA on the development of the Lunar Orbiting Platform – Gateway, or Gateway. Positioned in the vicinity of the Moon, the Gateway allows astronauts to demonstrate operations beyond Low Earth Orbit for months at a time. The Gateway is evolvable, flexible, modular, and is a precursor and mission demonstrator directly on the path to Mars. Mars Base Camp is Lockheed Martin's vision for sending humans to Mars. Operations from an orbital base camp will build on a strong foundation of today's technologies and emphasize scientific exploration as mission cornerstones. Key aspects of Mars Base Camp include utilizing liquid oxygen and hydrogen as the basis for a nascent water-based economy and the development of a reusable lander/ascent vehicle.
    [Show full text]
  • 09 September 2019 the Hindu Editorials Update Lqc G% 8 Cts# Mahendra's Youtube Channel
    09 September 2019 The Hindu Editorials Update lqcg% 8 cts # Mahendra's YouTube Channel . The Sentinelese, a negrito tribe that lives on the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans, remains hostile to outsiders. Based on carbon dating by the Anthropological Survey of India, Sentinelese presence was confirmed in the islands to 2,000 years ago. The Govt. of India issued the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956 to declare the traditional areas occupied by the tribes as reserves, and prohibited entry of all persons except those with authorisation. Photographing or filming the tribe members is also an offence. The rules were amended later to enhance penalties. But restricted area permits were relaxed for some islands . Almost nine months after American national John Allen Chau was recently. allegedly killed by the Sentinelese on the North Sentinel Island of Andaman and Nicobar islands, a recent publication by the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) throws more light on the incident and also the ways of one of the most isolated tribes in the world. Titled The Sentinelese of the North Sentinel Island: A reprisal of Tribal Scenario in an Andaman Island in context of Killing of an American Preacher. “On November 14, Chau left Port Blair and reached the island at night. He spent the entire day of November 15 with the Sentinelese and on the night when he met the fishermen who had transported him to the island, he gave them the dairy in which he had recorded his experience of the day,” the director said. The orbiter is safe in the intended orbit around the moon.
    [Show full text]
  • Tidal Tomography to Probe the Moon's Mantle Structure Using
    Tidal Tomography to Probe the Moon’s Mantle Structure Using Lunar Surface Gravimetry Kieran A. Carroll1, Harriet Lau2, 1: Gedex Systems Inc., [email protected] 2: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, [email protected] Lunar Tides Gravimetry of the Lunar Interior VEGA Instrument through the Moon's PulSE • Gedex has developed a low cost compact space gravimeter instrument , VEGA (Vector (GLIMPSE) Investigation Gravimeter/Accelerometer) Moon • Currently this is the only available gravimeter that is suitable for use in space Earth GLIMPSE Investigation: • Proposed under NASA’s Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads • ca. 1972 MIT developed a space gravimeter (LSITP) program. instrument for use on the Moon, for Apollo 17. That instrument is long-ago out of • To fly a VEGA instrument to the Moon on a commercial lunar lander, via NASA’s production and obsolete. Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. VEGA under test in thermal- GLIMPSE Objectives: VEGA Space Gravimeter Information vacuum chamber at Gedex • Prove the principle of measuring time-varying lunar surface gravity to probe the lunar • Measures absolute gravity vector, with no • Just as the Moon and the Sun exert tidal forces on the Earth, the Earth exerts tidal deep interior using the Tidal Tomography technique. bias forces on the Moon. • Determine constraints on parameters defining the Lunar mantle structure using time- • Accuracy on the Moon: • Tidal stresses in the Moon are proportional to the gravity gradient tensor field at the varying gravity measurements at a location on the surface of the Moon, over the • Magnitude: Effective noise of 8 micro- Moon’s centre, multiplies by the distance from the Moon’s centre.
    [Show full text]
  • Espinsights the Global Space Activity Monitor
    ESPInsights The Global Space Activity Monitor Issue 6 April-June 2020 CONTENTS FOCUS ..................................................................................................................... 6 The Crew Dragon mission to the ISS and the Commercial Crew Program ..................................... 6 SPACE POLICY AND PROGRAMMES .................................................................................... 7 EUROPE ................................................................................................................. 7 COVID-19 and the European space sector ....................................................................... 7 Space technologies for European defence ...................................................................... 7 ESA Earth Observation Missions ................................................................................... 8 Thales Alenia Space among HLS competitors ................................................................... 8 Advancements for the European Service Module ............................................................... 9 Airbus for the Martian Sample Fetch Rover ..................................................................... 9 New appointments in ESA, GSA and Eurospace ................................................................ 10 Italy introduces Platino, regions launch Mirror Copernicus .................................................. 10 DLR new research observatory ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Beresheet 2: Israel
    Beresheet 2: Israel drishtiias.com/printpdf/beresheet-2-israel Why in News Recently, Israel launched the Beresheet 2 project aimed at landing an unmanned craft on the moon in 2024. Earlier, Israel’s Beresheet probe crash landed on the Moon. Key Points Background: The Beresheet probe was a private mission to the Moon by Israeli non-profit SpaceIL organisation. Beresheet in hebrew (spoken in Israel) means Genesis. It was successfully launched in February 2019, on board a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral (USA) and arrived in lunar orbit in April 2019. It suffered an engine failure as it prepared to land and crashed abruptly on the surface of the moon. 1/2 Beresheet 2: Objective: Conducting experiments and collecting data on behalf of school students. Structure: It will involve launching two landing craft and an orbiter that would circle the moon for years. Cost: It will cost around 100 million dollars raised from international partnerships and donors. Significance: Israel could become the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the moon after the USA, the former Soviet Union and China. Other Missions to Moon: India has planned a new moon mission named Chandrayaan-3. It is likely to be launched in early 2021. It will be a mission repeat of Chandrayaan-2 and will include a Lander and Rover similar to that of Chandrayaan-2, but will not have an orbiter. Chandrayaan-2 failed which crushed India's dream to become the first nation to successfully touch down on the lunar surface in its maiden attempt. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2024.
    [Show full text]
  • Technozine19new.Pdf
    2 | TechnoZine ABOUT SIES GST The South Indian Education Society (SIES) was established in the year 1932. It is a pioneer in the field of education, knowledge and learning in this metropolis. The Society has been serv- ing the cause of education and has carved for itself a niche, as a provider of quality and value based education from Nursery to Doctoral level in a wide variety of fields. The institute seeks to achieve the educational mission by focusing on the modes of inquiry, which strengthens thinking skills and provides extensive field experiences, to bring together theory and practices. “This society should sincerely serve the cause of education and the educational needs of the common man of this cosmopolitan city” - SIES MISSION (set by our founder Shri M.V.Venkateshwaran in 1932) “To be a centre of excellence in Education and Technology committed towards Socio-Economic advancement of the country” - SIES VISION SIES Graduate School of Technology, an integral part of the well-established South Indian Educa- tion Society was founded in the year 2002. It is a part of an ever-growing educational hub in Navi Mumbai, imparting quality based technical education, offering four-year Bachelor of Engineering courses in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Printing & Packaging Technology and Me- chanical Engineering. SIES GST has been well known in terms of producing qual- ity and quantity. It stands to be a prestigious institution with a rich set of quali- fied faculties who have always been there to serve the young growing minds. SIES GST aims to enlighten its students and bring the best out of them.
    [Show full text]
  • ILWS Report 137 Moon
    Returning to the Moon Heritage issues raised by the Google Lunar X Prize Dirk HR Spennemann Guy Murphy Returning to the Moon Heritage issues raised by the Google Lunar X Prize Dirk HR Spennemann Guy Murphy Albury February 2020 © 2011, revised 2020. All rights reserved by the authors. The contents of this publication are copyright in all countries subscribing to the Berne Convention. No parts of this report may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, in existence or to be invented, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the authors, except where permitted by law. Preferred citation of this Report Spennemann, Dirk HR & Murphy, Guy (2020). Returning to the Moon. Heritage issues raised by the Google Lunar X Prize. Institute for Land, Water and Society Report nº 137. Albury, NSW: Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University. iv, 35 pp ISBN 978-1-86-467370-8 Disclaimer The views expressed in this report are solely the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of Charles Sturt University. Contact Associate Professor Dirk HR Spennemann, MA, PhD, MICOMOS, APF Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury NSW 2640, Australia. email: [email protected] Spennemann & Murphy (2020) Returning to the Moon: Heritage Issues Raised by the Google Lunar X Prize Page ii CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 1. INTRODUCTION 2 2. HUMAN ARTEFACTS ON THE MOON 3 What Have These Missions Left BehinD? 4 Impactor Missions 10 Lander Missions 11 Rover Missions 11 Sample Return Missions 11 Human Missions 11 The Lunar Environment & ImpLications for Artefact Preservation 13 Decay caused by ascent module 15 Decay by solar radiation 15 Human Interference 16 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Beresheet Lunar Landing Site Revealed 20 March 2019
    Beresheet lunar landing site revealed 20 March 2019 landing area that could jeopardize the touchdown. In addition, the scientists searched for a location on the Moon where the crust is magnetic, so as to allow the magnetometer on board the spacecraft to carry out its investigation. The landing site was selected together with Prof. Jim Head of Brown University, a member of the SpaceIL team who worked with the NASA Apollo program on landing site selection, among other things. "On the basis of our experience with Apollo, the Serenitatis sites favor both landing safety and scientific reward," he said. The topography of the 140 km (87 mi) diameter area The chosen site is located in the northeastern part containing the potential lunar landing sites in Mare of Mare Serenitatis, a few hundreds of miles east of Serenitatis (arrow). Darker colors indicate lower elevation. Credit: Weizmann Institute of Science the Apollo 15 landing site and a similar distance northwest of the Apollo 17 site. Three optional landing sites (primary and two backups) were identified. The terrain in these locations is The main scientific instrument on board the Israeli composed of material characteristic of ancient mare Beresheet spacecraft, the SpaceIL Magnetometer surfaces – large, dark basalt plains resulting from (SILMAG), has now been successfully turned on in long-ago volcanic eruptions – on which successful space and data returned to Earth. After its landings have been made (most recently Chang'E 3 successful launch, Beresheet is circling Earth on and 4). "Lunar magnetism has been an enigma for its journey to the Moon. Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Mars-Base-Camp-2028.Pdf
    Mars Base Camp An Architecture for Sending Humans to Mars by 2028 A Technical Paper Presented by: Timothy Cichan Stephen A. Bailey Lockheed Martin Space Deep Space Systems, Inc. [email protected] [email protected] Scott D. Norris Robert P. Chambers Lockheed Martin Space Lockheed Martin Space [email protected] [email protected] Robert P. Chambers Joshua W. Ehrlich Lockheed Martin Space Lockheed Martin Space [email protected] [email protected] October 2016 978-1-5090-1613-6/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE Abstract—Orion, the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, near term Mars mission is compelling and feasible, is a key piece of the NASA human exploration and will highlight the required key systems. architecture for beyond earth orbit (BEO). Lockheed Martin was awarded the contracts for TABLE OF CONTENTS the design, development, test, and production for Orion up through the Exploration Mission 2 (EM- 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 2 2). Additionally, Lockheed Martin is working on 2. ARCHITECTURE PURPOSE AND TENETS ....................... 3 defining the cis-lunar Proving Ground mission 3. MISSION CAMPAIGN, INCLUDING PROVING GROUND architecture, in partnership with NASA, and MISSIONS ................................................................ 5 exploring the definition of Mars missions as the 4. MISSION DESCRIPTION AND CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS . 7 horizon goal to provide input to the plans for 5. ELEMENT DESCRIPTIONS ....................................... 13 human exploration of the solar system. This paper 6. TRAJECTORY DESIGN ............................................ 16 describes an architecture to determine the 7. SCIENCE ............................................................. 19 feasibility of a Mars Base Camp architecture 8. MARS SURFACE ACCESS FOR CREW ......................... 14 within about a decade.
    [Show full text]
  • SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR: on CHANDRAYAAN 2 LANDER DEBACLE Relevant For: Science & Technology | Topic: Space Technology & Related Matters
    Source : www.thehindu.com Date : 2019-09-09 SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR: ON CHANDRAYAAN 2 LANDER DEBACLE Relevant for: Science & Technology | Topic: Space Technology & related matters The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) came tantalisingly close to creating history in the early hours of September 7 when the robotic lander Vikram followed the predetermined descent trajectory and came just within 2 km of the lunar surface before contact was lost. While it is unfortunate that the lander failed to safely touchdown, it is apt to remember that ISRO was attempting powered landing for the first time. To put it in perspective, there have been 38 attempts so far by other countries to land a rover on the moon and have succeeded only a little more than half the time. This April, Israel’s Beresheet lunar lander crashed to the lunar surface. But early January this year, China’s Chang’e-4 touched down on the lunar far side and deployed the Yutu-2 rover to explore the South Pole-Aitken basin. In Vikram, the velocity was successfully reduced from about 6,000 km per hour at the start of the descent at 35 km altitude to a few metres per second before communication snapped. That strongly indicates that powered landing went as per plan till about 2 km altitude from the lunar surface. Chandrayaan 2: India’s second moon mission — complete coverage While the powered landing of Vikram and exploration of the moon’s surface for 14 earth days by the Pragyan rover were one of the main objectives of Chandrayaan 2, it is wrong to think that the mission itself has failed.
    [Show full text]