Will Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover wake up today?
Written by Sanjay Kumar
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is embarking on a mission to revive the slumbering Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. These spacecraft were placed into a state of dormancy earlier this month, and ISRO aims to re-establish communication with both devices on September 22, following a lunar night that lasted over two weeks.
Entering Sleep Mode: Vikram and Pragya Rover
Shortly after making a successful landing on the lunar surface, the Chandrayaan-3’s lander was transitioned into sleep mode at around 8 a.m. on September 4. While its payloads were deactivated, its receivers remained operational. ISRO explained that “In-situ experiments by ChaSTE, RAMBHA-LP, and ILSA payloads are performed at the new location, with the collected data being transmitted to Earth.” Before this, on September 2, ISRO had initiated sleep mode for the Pragyan Rover. During this process, the rover’s battery was fully charged, the receiver was kept active, and the solar panel was positioned to capture the sunlight expected during the next sunrise on September 22.
ISRO stated on September 4, “Vikram will fall asleep next to Pragyan once the solar power is depleted and the battery is drained. Hoping for their awakening, around September 22, 2023.”
Chandrayaan 3’s Remarkable “Hop” Mission
On September 4, the Vikram lander executed a second successful touchdown on the lunar surface, surpassing the objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. It accomplished a “hop experiment,” where the lander’s engines were activated on command, lifting it 40 centimeters above the ground, as per ISRO’s expectations. It then safely landed back, just 30 to 40 centimeters away from its original position. ISRO detailed this achievement in a video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).
ISRO emphasized the significance of this achievement, as it is anticipated to “kick start” and inspire future missions that will carry astronauts to the lunar surface.
The Significance of Chandrayaan 3’s Discoveries
ISRO’s ambitious third lunar mission propelled India into the select group of nations that have successfully landed on the Moon. Notably, India became the first country to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth’s natural satellite. The location where the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander softly touched down was christened “Shiv Shakti Point,” while the site where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed in 2019 was named “Tiranga Point.”
The lunar south pole has become a focal point for exploration due to its unique characteristics and potential scientific importance. It is believed to contain a substantial reservoir of water ice in shadowed areas, which could prove invaluable for future space missions, as it can be harnessed to produce resources such as drinking water, oxygen, and hydrogen for rocket fuel. Additionally, the region that receives constant sunlight on the Moon maintains a temperature range of minus 50 to 10 degrees Celsius, providing more favorable conditions for the electronics of the lander and rover.
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