As ISRO tries to resurrect the “Vikram lander and Pragyan rover” today, September 22, 2023, all eyes will be on Chandrayaan-3. Now that the Moon is rising, ISRO is preparing to attempt to contact its solar-powered Chandrayaan 3 Vikram Lander and rover Pragyan from the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission again in order to bring them back to life and allow them to resume scientific research. Ahead of the moon night falling on Earth’s one natural satellite, the lander and rover were both placed into sleep mode earlier this month on September 4 and 2, respectively.
Chandrayaan 3 Vikram Lander
The main challenge facing “Pragyan and Chandrayaan 3 Vikram Lander” is to return to action after their survival in the bone-chilling -200 degree Celsius weather. The modules can resurrect and carry on their task of transmitting data from the moon for the following fourteen days, provided that the onboard equipment withstands the cold temperature on the moon. If everything goes according to plan, the rover will get the orders and begin to move.
ISRO is preparing for an exciting phase of the Chandrayaan 3 Vikram Lander project. Ground stations are ready to wake up Vikram and Pragyan, the mission’s lander and rover modules, from their hibernation in the Moon’s chill. ISRO wants to restore the 14-day-old lander and rover. If they wake up completely functioning, they can operate for 14 Earth days, helping scientists learn more about the moon.
Chandrayaan 3 Vikram lander LIVE updates
After a ‘ soft landing’ on the Moon’s south pole, ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3 wants a ‘bonus’ of being resurrected after its lander Vikram and rover Pragyan worked for 14 Earth days. The lander and rover went to sleep on September 2 and 4 due to excessive lunar surface cold from lack of sunlight. After a new lunar sunrise on Friday, the ISRO will awaken the lander and rover, something they were not expecting.
The purpose is to test the equipment’s durability because lunar nighttime temperatures may drop to -200°C and -250°C at the poles. Before sending Vikram and Pragyan’s equipment to sleep in stages starting September 2, ISRO personnel charged the solar-powered batteries and positioned the solar panels for morning light.
Chandrayaan 3’s Hop Mission
Second landing on September 4, the Vikram lander “exceeded Chandrayaan-3 mission objectives” during its lunar landing. In a video released by ISRO, the agency said that the lander successfully executed a “hop experiment” in which it ignited its engines on command, rose 40 centimeters above the ground as predicted, and then safely returned to its original location, 30 to 40 cm distant.
Sleep Mode Of Vikram, Pragya Rover
Days after landing on the moon, Chandrayaan-3’s lander went to sleep at 8 a.m. on September 4. Although its payloads were disabled, its receivers worked. ChaSTE, RAMBHA-LP, and ILSA payloads conduct in-situ studies at the new site. ISRO announced the lander’s sleep mode activation by saying Earth receives data.
Before this, the agency activated Pragyan Rover’s sleep mode on September 2. The battery was charged, the receiver was on, and the solar panel was aligned for the September 22 dawn.
Significance Of Chandrayaan 3’s Findings
Exploration has focused on the lunar south pole because of its unique properties and its scientific value. Its large water ice reserve in shadowed parts might support future space travel by providing drinking water, oxygen, and hydrogen for rocket fuel. The Moon’s constantly sunny sector offers a temperature range of minus 50 to 10 degrees Celsius, providing better chemistry conditions for the lander and rover’s electronics.
What Happens if the Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover Wake Up?
Both the lander and the rover have 14 more Earth days of operation left if they awaken fully operational. As a result, researchers will be able to learn considerably more about the lunar surface. In addition, the lander jumped to a new location before being powered down, which, should it be properly revived, may provide scientists further insight.
The Challenges Of Chandrayaan 3 Mission
Chandrayaan-3 uses solar panels. Thus, the lander and rover may use solar power, but their mission was limited to 14 Earth days from August 24. The spacecraft’s electronics were not designed to withstand the Moon’s extraordinarily frigid nighttime temperatures, which may dip to -200 degrees Celsius at the south pole, where Chandrayaan-3 landed.
ISRO took a risk by sleeping the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover after achieving its goals. The batteries were completely charged as the rover and lander slept, anticipating them to wake up.
ISRO’s mission objectives for the Chandrayaan-3
- Creating and deploying a lander to touch down on the moon gently and securely.
- Observing the Moon and showcasing the rover’s driving skills.
- Use the materials found on the lunar surface to conduct and observe experiments in order to get a better understanding of the lunar composition.