Nilesh Desai, the Director of ISRO Space Applications Centre, emphasized the team's main concern: reducing the spacecraft's speed as it approaches the lunar surface.
On August 23rd, the lander's objective is a gentle landing on the Moon from a 30km height, with a velocity of 1.68 km per second. Desai stressed the importance of decreasing this speed due to the Moon's gravitational force.
Neglecting this reduction could lead to an undesired crash landing. If any anomalies arise in the lander module's health parameters on August 23rd, the landing will be rescheduled to August 27th
This timeline allows for analysis of telemetry signals and assessment of lunar conditions. Deviations in health parameters could result in a postponement to August 27th, assuming all other factors are favorable.
When the lander reaches an altitude of 800 meters above the lunar surface, two engines will be used to bring its speed to zero. Between 800 and 150 meters, the lander module will execute a vertical descent.
Data collected from sensors on the lander module will guide the selection of the landing site, providing precise details regarding speed and distance from the Moon's surface.
The mission's planning for a secure landing on the lunar surface has considered various scenarios, targeting the Moon's South Pole at a 70-degree latitude on August 23rd.
Desai highlighted the upgrades and robust hardware systems incorporated into this mission, ensuring a higher likelihood of success. In the event of a delay until August 27th, an alternate landing site 400 km away from the primary site has been identified.
ISRO confirmed the mission's adherence to schedule, with routine system checks and the spacecraft progressing smoothly.