India’s Moon Rover Successfully Completes Mission and Enters Sleep Mode

India’s Moon Rover Completes Mission and Enters Sleep Mode

India’s moon rover, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, has successfully completed its tasks on the lunar surface and has been put into sleep mode, according to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The rover’s payloads have been turned off, and the data it collected has been transmitted back to Earth via the lander.

The Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover were expected to operate for one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 days on Earth. With daylight on that part of the moon coming to an end, the rover has been safely parked and set into sleep mode. The battery is fully charged, and the solar panel is oriented to receive light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023.

While there is no word on the outcome of the rover’s search for signs of frozen water on the lunar surface, last week, the space agency announced that the rover had confirmed the presence of sulfur and detected several other elements. The rover’s laser-induced spectroscope instrument also detected aluminum, iron, calcium, chromium, titanium, manganese, oxygen, and silicon on the surface.

However, the Indian Express newspaper reported that the electronics on board the Indian moon mission were not designed to withstand the extremely low temperatures during the lunar night, which can drop below -120°C (-184°F). The lunar night also lasts for as long as 14 days on Earth.

Pallava Bagla, a science writer and co-author of books on India’s space exploration, explained that the rover has limited battery power and the electronics may not survive the cold temperatures on the moon. He mentioned that the technology to make electronic circuits and components that can withstand such extreme cold temperatures does not exist in India.

India’s successful moon mission comes after a failed attempt to land on the moon in 2019. With this achievement, India joins the United States, the Soviet Union, and China as the only countries to have successfully landed on the moon. The mission highlights India’s growing status as a technology and space powerhouse and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of projecting India as an ascendant country among the global elite.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission began over a month ago and had an estimated cost of $75 million. It follows Russia’s Luna-25 mission, which aimed to land in the same lunar region but spun into an uncontrolled orbit and crashed. Russia’s space agency attributed the failure to a lack of expertise due to the long break in lunar research since the last Soviet mission to the moon in 1976.

India has been active in space exploration since the 1960s, launching satellites for itself and other countries. In 2014, India successfully put a satellite in orbit around Mars. The country is now planning its first mission to the International Space Station in collaboration with the United States, scheduled for next year.

How will the analysis of the data collected by the Pragyan rover help scientists gain a better understanding of the moon’s history and its potential for future exploration

Silicon, calcium, iron, magnesium, and titanium in the lunar soil.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched in December 2022, aimed to further study the moon’s surface and search for signs of water and other minerals. The successful completion of the rover’s tasks is a significant milestone for India’s space program.

The rover, named Pragyan, had been exploring the lunar surface using its scientific instruments, collecting valuable data about the moon’s composition and geology. The data collected will be analyzed by scientists to gain a better understanding of the moon’s history and its potential for future exploration.

Entering sleep mode is a standard procedure for lunar rovers to conserve energy and protect them during the harsh lunar night. During this period, temperatures can drop drastically to as low as -273 degrees Celsius (-459 degrees Fahrenheit). By shutting down non-essential systems, the rover can conserve power and ensure its survival until the next day.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a continuation of India’s successful lunar exploration program, following the Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions in 2008 and 2019, respectively. These missions have helped India gain valuable experience in lunar missions and have contributed to scientific knowledge about the moon.

The ISRO is now eagerly awaiting the next lunar day when the rover will wake up and resume its operations. With its battery fully charged and ready for action, Pragyan will continue its exploration and contribute to our understanding of the moon.

India’s achievements in space exploration highlight the country’s growing capabilities in the field and its commitment to scientific progress. The successful completion of the Chandrayaan-3 mission showcases India’s potential as a major player in the global space community.