Chandrayaan-3 lands on Moon: Pragyan Rover's mission ahead
India has achieved a historic milestone in space exploration by successfully landing its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon, making it the fourth country to do so and the first to reach the lunar south pole region. The mission consists of a lander named Vikram and a rover named Pragyan, which are designed to conduct scientific experiments and study the lunar surface for various elements.
What is Pragyan Rover and what will it do?
Pragyan Rover is a small, six-wheeled vehicle that weighs about 26 kg and operates on solar power. It is housed inside the Vikram lander and will roll out from it by using a ramp. The rover is equipped with two cameras, a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument, and an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) instrument.
The rover's main objectives are to:
- Perform in-situ analysis of the lunar soil and rocks using its instruments, which can detect the presence and abundance of various elements such as magnesium, aluminium, silicon, calcium, iron, titanium, sodium, and hydrogen.
- Generate 3D maps of the surrounding terrain using its cameras, which can provide a stereoscopic view and help in navigation and path planning.
- Communicate with the Vikram lander, which will relay the data to the Earth station via the Chandrayaan-3 orbiter.
The rover is expected to travel up to 500 meters on the lunar surface at a speed of 1 cm per second. It will operate for one lunar day or around 14 Earth days, as its electronics are not designed to withstand the extreme cold of the lunar night.
Why is the lunar south pole region important?
The lunar south pole region is considered to be an area of high scientific and strategic interest for spacefaring nations, as it is believed to contain water ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters. Water is a vital resource for future human exploration and colonization of the Moon, as it can be used for drinking, growing plants, producing oxygen, and making rocket fuel.
The region also offers a unique opportunity to study the ancient history and evolution of the Moon, as it has been relatively untouched by solar radiation and meteorite impacts. The region may also contain minerals and rare earth elements that could be useful for various applications.
By landing near the lunar south pole region, India has demonstrated its technological prowess and scientific curiosity, as well as its ambition to become a leading player in the global space arena. Chandrayaan-3 is not only a proud achievement for India, but also a valuable contribution to humanity's quest for understanding and exploring our natural satellite.
Source:
(1) Chandrayaan-3 lands on Moon: 'Went though lot of pain and agony', says ISRO chief. https://www.livemint.com/science/news/chandrayaan3-lands-on-moon-went-though-lot-of-pain-and-agony-says-isro-chief-11692807407106.html.
(2) Chandrayaan-3: President Murmu lauds ISRO team for successfull deployment of Pragyan-rover on lunar South Pole. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/chandrayaan-3-president-droupadi-murmu-lauds-isro-team-pragyan-rover-lunar-south-pole-successfull-deployment-vikram-lander-latest-updates-2023-08-24-888581.
(3) Chandrayaan-3: With lander Vikram making it to lunar surface, rover Pragyan will now take over. https://www.indiablooms.com/health-details/S/13011/chandrayaan-3-with-lander-vikram-making-it-to-lunar-surface-successfully-rover-pragyan-will-now-take-over.html.
(4) Chandrayaan-3 - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-3.
(5) Chandrayaan-3 landing: India becomes the fourth country ever to land a .... https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/world/chandrayaan-3-lunar-landing-attempt-scn/index.html.
FAQ's
Is Pragyan rover out from Chandrayaan-3?
The Pragyan rover has rolled out from the Vikram lander and will now roam around the rocks and craters on the lunar surface, marking a successful next stage hours after Chandrayaan-3 made its historic landing on the Moon, ISRO sources said Thursday.
What is Pragyan rover in Chandrayaan-3?
Chandrayaan-3 LIVE updates: What is Pragyan lander? The word Pragyan is derived from Sanskrit word which means wisdom. Pragyan is a six-wheeled rover designed to carry out series of experiments on the surface of the Moon.
Has the Pragyan rover come out?
After the successful landing at 6.04pm on Wednesday, Chandrayaan 3 waited for the lunar dust to settle down. The process of Pragyan rover -- which was attached to the belly of Vikram lander -- rolling out started and it came out.
What is the use of Pragyan rover?
Pragyan's agenda encompasses a constellation of scientific pursuits. From analyzing the Moon's chemical composition to scrutinizing its soil and rocks, the rover's mission promises to illuminate intricate lunar intricacies.
