Lander
The term Lander can refer to several different subjects depending on the context:
Spacecraft Landers
In Space Exploration, a Lander is a type of spacecraft designed to land on the surface of another celestial body, like the Moon, Mars, or asteroids. Here are some notable examples:
Historical Landers
In historical contexts, landers could also refer to:
- Lunar Rover - Though not a lander itself, it was deployed from the Apollo Lunar Module.
- Surveyor Program - A series of unmanned spacecraft that soft-landed on the Moon to prepare for the Apollo missions.
Challenges of Landing
Landing on other planetary bodies poses several challenges:
- Atmospheric Entry - For planets with atmospheres, spacecraft must survive extreme heat and deceleration.
- Gravity - Different gravity levels require different landing strategies.
- Surface Conditions - Unknown or harsh surface conditions can make landing difficult.
- Communication Delays - The time delay in communication with Earth makes real-time control impractical.
Technology and Design
Landers incorporate:
- Heat Shields - To protect against atmospheric entry.
- Parachutes and Retro-Rockets - For deceleration.
- Landing Legs or Airbags - To cushion the impact upon touchdown.
- Scientific Instruments - To conduct experiments or collect data after landing.
Recent Developments
Recent advancements in lander technology include:
- Mars 2020 - NASA's Perseverance rover will land on Mars in 2021, using an advanced version of the Sky Crane.
- Chandrayaan-2 - India's attempt to land a rover on the Moon, though the lander failed to achieve a soft landing.
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