Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 22 SEP: In a bid to reestablish contact with Chandrayaan 3’s Lander Vikram and Rover Pragyan, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made attempts to ascertain their wake-up condition on Friday. However, as of now, no signals have been received from the lander and rover modules. ISRO remains committed to its efforts to establish communication.
Earlier today, Nilesh Desai, the Director of Space Applications Centre, announced that the planned reactivation of Chandrayaan 3’s rover Pragyan and lander module Vikram is scheduled for Saturday, September 23. Originally planned for the evening of September 22, the reactivation was delayed due to unforeseen reasons.
Chandrayaan 3, India’s lunar mission, had already achieved its mission objectives. Nevertheless, the rover and lander were placed in a sleep mode on September 2, coinciding with the lunar night. ISRO had previously stated its intention to attempt awakening them at the next lunar sunrise on September 22.
Reactivating Chandrayaan 3’s lander and rover poses a formidable challenge. The lunar night brings frigid temperatures, plummeting as low as -208 degrees Fahrenheit (-133 degrees Celsius). After enduring these extreme conditions for nearly two weeks, it becomes challenging for the instruments of Vikram and Pragyan to restart.
Former ISRO chief GM Nair drew an analogy, describing the process of awakening the lander and rover as “almost like checking something out from the freezer and then trying to use it.”
On August 24, India marked a historic achievement when Chandrayaan 3 successfully achieved a soft landing near the South Pole region of the lunar surface. The momentous event signified a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey, providing a well-deserved culmination to ISRO’s years of dedication and hard work.
ISRO remains steadfast in its determination to reestablish communication with Chandrayaan 3’s Lander Vikram and Rover Pragyan, as scientists and space enthusiasts around the world await updates on this crucial endeavor.
Tags: #ISRO #Chandrayaan3 #lander #rover
