Chandrayaan-3 Update: ISRO’s Bold Attempt to Revive Lander & Rover!

ISRO’s Lunar Challenge: Reviving Chandrayaan-3 – Don’t Miss It!

As the dawn unfolds over the lunar landscape, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is presently engaged in endeavors to rekindle its lunar mission, known as ‘Chandrayaan-3,’ with the primary objective of re-establishing communication with its solar-powered lander, ‘Vikram,’ and its trusty rover, ‘Pragyan.’ This concerted effort is driven by the fervent desire to facilitate the resumption of their scientific pursuits. It is noteworthy that both the lander and the rover were transitioned into a state of dormancy, or “sleep mode,” earlier this month, specifically on September 4th and 2nd, respectively.

The imminent prospect of sunrise on the lunar horizon has prompted ISRO to make concerted attempts at reviving the lander and rover. This reactivation, if successfully achieved, would pave the way for a renewed series of experiments conducted by Chandrayaan-3’s scientific payload. The precise location of both the lander and rover lies within the southern polar region of the Moon, where they are poised to bask in the rejuvenating embrace of sunlight, thereby replenishing their vital solar panels. The organization’s diligent efforts are now focused on re-establishing contact with these robotic explorers and bringing them back to life.

Nilesh Desai, the director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, elucidated the rationale behind the decision to place both the lander and rover in “sleep mode,” citing the extreme lunar temperatures that can plummet to as low as minus 120-200 degrees Celsius. With the eagerly anticipated lunar sunrise occurring on September 22nd, the organization harbors optimism that the solar panels and associated equipment will be sufficiently recharged by this juncture, thereby enabling the initiation of the reactivation process for both the lander and the rover. Desai expressed, “If fortune smiles upon us, both our lander and rover will be reanimated, furnishing us with additional experimental data that holds great significance for our continued lunar surface investigations.” The anticipation for activity to rekindle on September 22nd is palpable, as ISRO eagerly anticipates the reinvigoration of both the lander and rover, accompanied by the prospect of garnering further invaluable data.

Following their successful touchdown on the lunar terrain, the lander and rover, alongside their scientific payload, methodically conducted a series of experiments, all meticulously orchestrated to conclude within the confines of a single lunar day, which is equivalent to approximately 14 Earth days. The combined mass of the lander and rover totals 1,752 kilograms, with a design intended to facilitate operations for the duration of one lunar day, allowing for an in-depth scrutiny of the lunar environment.

ISRO nurtures the hope that, with the advent of the lunar sunrise, the lander and rover will spring back to life, thus affording an opportunity to extend their repertoire of experiments and research activities on the lunar surface. ISRO’s statement on September 4th elucidated that once the solar energy is depleted and the batteries cease to receive power, Vikram will transition into an inactive state in proximity to Pragyan. The eagerly awaited reactivation is anticipated to transpire around September 22, 2023.

It is worth highlighting that ISRO made history on August 23rd with the triumphant soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s ‘Vikram’ lander upon the lunar expanse, marking India’s achievement as the fourth nation to reach the Moon’s surface and the inaugural one to reach its southern pole.