India’s moon lander and rover will awaken from their month-long nap as the sun rises on the moon.
India's moon lander and rover will awaken from their month-long nap as the sun rises on the moon.
India’s Moon Rover and Lander Prepare to Awaken in Lunar South Pole
India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), has announced that its moon lander, Vikram, and its lunar rover, Pragyan, are set to wake up from their month-long nap on September 22. The two robots, which were the first to land near the lunar south pole in August, have been powered down during the lunar night when temperatures can dip as low as -334 degrees Fahrenheit. However, their awakening is not guaranteed due to the extreme cold conditions on the moon.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission has already been considered a success, as the lander and rover have fulfilled their primary objective of exploring the lunar south pole region for the first 14 days after touchdown. Within this limited time, several significant scientific discoveries have been made. The lunar rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur, aluminum, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, and even detected a possible moonquake.
The exploration of the lunar south pole is of great importance because it is believed to contain valuable resources, particularly water ice. Water ice can be used to produce oxygen for breathing, as well as hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel. India’s lander and rover are the first to study this region up-close and sample it directly, which has generated significant interest among scientists and companies aiming to establish a base on the moon.
Having fulfilled their primary mission, the reawakening of Vikram and Pragyan would be a bonus for the team at ISRO. However, there is a risk that the extreme cold on the moon may have damaged the robots beyond repair. According to Pallava Bagla, an author who has written about India’s space exploration, India currently lacks the technology to withstand such cold temperatures.
Both Vikram and Pragyan rely on solar power to charge their batteries and operate their scientific instruments. The orientation of their solar panels is crucial for receiving sunlight during the lunar day, which is expected to begin on September 22, 2023. If all goes well, the robots will resume their operations. However, if they fail to wake up, the mission will still be considered a success.
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India’s moon landing in August marked a significant milestone for the country, making it the fourth country after the United States, Russia, and China to achieve landing on the moon. Moreover, India’s accomplishment includes the first landing near the lunar south pole, bringing new insights and paving the way for future lunar exploration.
The potential utilization of the moon’s resources has sparked interest among governments, private companies, and scientific communities worldwide. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has contributed to expanding our knowledge about the lunar south pole and its potential resources. Whether Vikram and Pragyan awaken or not, their impact on lunar exploration is already significant.
Mission operations director M. Srikanth expressed confidence in the robots’ reawakening. If successful, it will be an added achievement for the mission. However, even if they cannot be revived, the mission will still be considered complete, given the valuable scientific discoveries made during their operational period.
In conclusion, India’s moon rover, Pragyan, and its lander, Vikram, are set to awaken after a month-long power nap during the lunar night. The historic robots have successfully explored the lunar south pole region, making important scientific discoveries. The potential presence of water ice has generated interest among scientists and companies looking to establish a lunar base. Although there is a chance that the extreme cold may have permanently disabled the robots, the mission will still be considered a success. India’s contribution to lunar exploration and resource utilization highlights the nation’s growing prowess in space research and technology.