As India and ISRO looks beyond Chandrayaan-2, two researchers from Jadavpur University are working on ISRO simulation to perfect soft-landing missions on moon and other planets in the solar system.
Even though ISRO Aditya L1 mission -- a probe to the sun's surface -- seems to be delayed due to rise in COVID-19 pandemic in India, ISRO isn't sitting idle and continuing to chug along.
ISRO has partnered with Jadavpur University for research-based projects in space simulation and space technologies for future missions to moon and beyond.
As per a PTI report, the research is aimed at ensuring future landers and rovers to moon and other planets don't crash land on the surface in the absolute final stages of any ISRO mission.
Sayan Chatterjee, Associate Professor of Electronics and Telecommunications and Co-Investigator of the project, told PTI the simulation-testing they're doing is to ensure soft touchdown of lander onto the surface, with no damage to the sensitive electronics onboard critical for the future of the lander.?
To ensure this, the model takes into account the gradual spiral descent of the lander?during touchdown?onto the surface.?
The spiralling is planned after the lander gets?an angular view?at its landing site for?any rock or boulder. As per Chatterjee, it moves like?"a kite which catches prey while flying after getting an angular view of the target."
Post Jadavpur University researchers' designing of the simulation-based model, ISRO will do the fabrication.
Though the need to work on a softer landing on cosmic bodies was highlighted after the failed attempt at lunar landing with the Chandrayaan-2, the new model will not be restricted to lunar missions.?
"Apart from moon, the soft landing may be of use for ISRO's mission to other planets," said?Dr Amitava Gupta,?Professor, Department of Power Engineering at Jadavpur University.
The project forms a part of ''Respond programme'' by ISRO that involves working in tandem with premier space science institutions.
Chatterjee confirmed that through the collaboration, ISRO is "involving undergraduate students as interns, allowing them to get an exposure of live projects," Gupta said.