The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been eagerly awaiting any sign of life from Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover and Vikram lander. However, ISRO’s Chairman, S Somanath, has recently expressed his lack of concern if these lunar explorers do not revive. Somanath’s remarks shed light on the achievements of the mission and the challenges faced by these lunar inhabitants.
Somanath’s Perspective: Speaking at a press conference, Somanath emphasized that Chandrayaan-3’s rover, which is currently in sleep mode on the lunar surface, has already accomplished its intended objectives in the mission. This achievement suggests that the rover has fulfilled its primary goals, even if it does not reawaken.
The ISRO chief explained that the possibility of the rover not reactivating could be attributed to potential damage to its electronic circuits caused by the extreme lunar environment. On the Moon, temperatures can plummet to nearly 200 degrees Celsius below freezing. However, Somanath maintained that this outcome would not pose a significant problem since the rover has effectively completed its mission.
ISRO’s Efforts to Reestablish Contact: ISRO had made attempts to reestablish contact with the rover and lander after they were put into sleep mode in anticipation of the lunar night. Lunar days are roughly equivalent to 14 Earth days, and the agency wanted to assess their “wake-up condition” as the lunar night approached. Unfortunately, no signals have been received from Pragyan rover and Vikram lander to date.
A Successful Mission: Upon their landing on the Moon on August 23, both the lander and the rover, along with their onboard payloads, diligently conducted experiments to fulfill their objectives within the 14-day lunar day timeframe. This rigorous exploration was carried out to gather valuable data before the onset of pitch darkness and extreme cold during the lunar night. The combined mass of the lander and rover is 1,752 kg, and their mission was designed for operation during one lunar daylight period.
Upcoming ISRO Missions: Meanwhile, Somanath revealed that ISRO is gearing up for the launch of the XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), tentatively scheduled for November or December. Additionally, another mission on the horizon is INSAT-3DS, a climate satellite set to be launched in December.
Somanath’s comments underscore ISRO’s dedication to lunar exploration and its ability to adapt to the challenges of space exploration, whether a mission concludes as planned or encounters unforeseen obstacles.
