Exploration Milestone: Pragyan Rover Captures Image of Vikram Lander
In a significant development, India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), announced that the Pragyan rover, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, has successfully captured an image of the Vikram lander. This exciting revelation was shared by ISRO via their official handle on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by the caption “Smile, please!”.
Chandrayaan-3’s Latest Update
The photograph was taken using the navigation camera onboard the Pragyan rover, marking a milestone in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. As of now, the rover has completed nearly half of its intended lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days. Unfortunately, both the lander and the rover are not expected to survive beyond this lunar day due to plummeting temperatures, which can reach as low as -130°C in the absence of sunlight.
Scientific Discoveries on the Lunar Surface
Throughout its mission on the lunar surface, the Pragyan rover has been diligently exploring craters and conducting elemental composition analyses of the Moon. A notable achievement occurred when one of the mission’s instruments performed the first analysis of elements near the Moon’s South Pole. This analysis unequivocally confirmed the presence of sulphur in the region and unveiled the existence of other elements including aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon, and oxygen. The experiment is still actively searching for the presence of hydrogen.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s success in detecting these elements is attributed to the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument. This powerful tool can detect elements irrespective of their states and enables rapid, multi-element detection—a crucial capability given the time constraint of the lunar day.
Challenges and Adaptability
The Pragyan rover faced its share of challenges on the lunar surface, encountering a four-meter-wide crater in its path. In response, it was directed to retrace its steps and explore a new route. The rover’s navigational camera captured detailed tracks of its movements during this operation.
ISRO’s Next Endeavor: Aditya L1 Mission
While the Chandrayaan-3 mission continues to provide valuable lunar insights, ISRO is gearing up for another ambitious venture—the Aditya L1 mission. With the internal checks and rehearsals completed, the launch is scheduled for Saturday at 11.50 am from Sriharikota.
Aditya L1: Studying the Sun
This mission will conduct seven scientific experiments approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth. Its primary focus is to study the Sun’s various atmospheric layers and explosive phenomena. The journey to the L1 point, a region where gravitational forces between the Earth and the Sun are balanced, will span nearly four months.
As ISRO continues to make strides in lunar exploration and prepares for its upcoming solar mission, the world eagerly awaits further discoveries and advancements in space exploration.