#ISRO achieves significant milestone in lunar exploration
Bengaluru: In a remarkable feat of scientific achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Saturday that the Pragyan rover, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, has been successfully put to sleep (hibernation mode) on the lunar surface for 14 days.
ISRO expressed hope that the rover will awaken after a 14-day (on 22 September) slumber to continue its mission. The Pragyan rover’s successful completion of its tasks is a testament to India’s growing prowess in space exploration.
The Pragyan rover, which was working in tandem with the Vikram lander, had been collecting vital scientific data from the Moon’s surface. It carried two crucial payloads—the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)—designed to analyze the elemental and mineralogical composition of the lunar soil and rocks. This data has provided invaluable insights into the Moon’s geological makeup.
ISRO made the announcement through a post on its official social media platform, X, stating, “The Rover completed its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into Sleep mode. APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off. Data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander. Currently, the battery is fully charged. The solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise, expected on September 22, 2023. The receiver is kept on. Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments! Else, it will forever stay there as India’s lunar ambassador.”
Notably, the anticipated operational duration for the Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover was limited to a single Lunar day, corresponding to approximately 14 Earth days. This is due to the fact that the electronic components have not been engineered to endure extremely low temperatures, specifically below -120 degrees Celsius, which occur during the lunar nights.
The duration of lunar nighttime also stretches up to 14 days on Earth. Nonetheless, there’s a possibility that the electrical devices could withstand these low temperatures and subsequently regain functionality upon exposure to sunlight. Several years ago, This was witnessed during a previous Chinese lander mission.
In an earlier statement, ISRO Chief S Somanath conveyed that ISRO would make an effort to extend the operational timeline of both the lander and rover. “In the next couple of days, we will initiate the process of putting them (the lander and the rover) to sleep so they can endure the night,” Somanath stated shortly after the successful launch of the Aditya-L1 solar mission.”
Meanwhile, the successful landing and operation of the Pragyan rover mark India’s momentous achievement as only the fourth country, following the United States, China, and Russia, to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
The rover’s journey of covering a distance of 100 meters on the Moon is a remarkable testament to ISRO’s capabilities in achieving safe landing and effective roving on extraterrestrial surfaces.
Among the significant findings reported by the Pragyan rover is the confirmation of the presence of sulfur, iron, oxygen, and other elements on the lunar surface. This breakthrough adds to humanity’s understanding of the Moon’s composition and evolution.
The ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, which culminated in the successful landing on August 23, 2023, has once again elevated India’s status in the global space community. As the Pragyan rover enters its period of rest, scientists and space enthusiasts alike eagerly await its awakening, hoping for the continuation of groundbreaking discoveries that will further expand our understanding of our celestial neighbour.