Newly released footage showcases the remarkable journey of India’s moon rover as it embarks on its exploration of the lunar surface, mere hours after arriving at the moon’s south mole. Launched on Wednesday, Chandrayaan-3 comprises a stationary four-legged lander and a smaller rover. The captivating video clip captures the adventurous four-wheeled rover descending from the lander’s ramp and venturing into the dusty terrain, leaving behind distinct track marks. Just yesterday, Chandrayaan-3 astonished the world by transmitting its initial photograph of the moon’s surface and four breathtaking snapshots captured during descent. While the precise landing site of Chandrayaan-3 is yet to be officially confirmed by India’s space agency, it is believed to be the same intended location as the ill-fated Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019, situated between the Manzinus C and Simpelius N southern craters.
The esteemed Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has affirmed that its groundbreaking mission is proceeding smoothly, with all systems operating as expected. “All activities are on schedule. All systems are normal,” ISRO announced on its social media platform, X (previously Twitter). “Rover mobility operations have commenced.” The rover, affectionately referred to as ‘Pragyan,’ contains two scientific instruments, while the lander, named ‘Vikram,’ houses three instruments, all of which have been activated one by one. These instruments will analyze the moon’s atmospheric and mineral composition, focusing on areas rich in water ice commonly found in the lunar region’s south. However, the scientific instruments will only remain functional for approximately one lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days, before depleting their power, making this a relatively short mission.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by the moon’s surface, such as lunar dust and freezing temperatures, ISRO chairman Sreedhara Somanath expressed concerns about potential issues that could impact the rover’s mechanical parts during the 14-day period. “The mechanisms and moving components may get entangled with the dust, causing the bearings and motors to malfunction,” he explained during an interview with India’s CNN News 18 TV channel. “All these factors can create problems for the mechanisms, but that’s precisely why we are exploring. If everything were already known, there would be no excitement in undertaking these missions.” Somanath’s remarks highlight the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with venturing into the unexplored region of the lunar south pole.
The lunar south pole has aroused significant interest among various space agencies, including Russia, China, and the United States. Russia’s recent failed attempt to land a spacecraft in the southern region has cleared the path for India to achieve this milestone. While India becomes the fourth country, following the US, Russia, and China, to successfully land a craft on the moon, it stands alone as the first nation to achieve this feat in the moon’s south pole. Chandrayaan-3 initiated its journey from Earth over a month ago, launching from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on July 14th. Due to the utilization of less powerful rockets, India’s spacecraft required multiple orbits around Earth to gain speed before embarking on its month-long trajectory to the moon. Following over two weeks in lunar orbit, Chandrayaan-3 finally accomplished its historic landing, heralding a moment of jubilation for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as a ‘historic day’ for the nation’s space sector, declaring that ‘India is now on the moon.’
India’s relatively low-budget aerospace program has experienced substantial growth since its first lunar orbit mission, Chandrayaan-1, in 2008. With a price tag of $74.6 million, Chandrayaan-3’s mission costs remain significantly lower than those of other nations, a testament to India’s resourceful space engineering. The ability to adapt and modify existing space technologies, coupled with a supply of highly skilled engineers whose wages are substantially lower than their foreign counterparts, allows India to maintain cost efficiency. In addition to its lunar achievements, India successfully inserted a satellite into Mars’ orbit in 2014, becoming the first Asian nation to do so. The country is also planning a three-day manned mission to Earth’s orbit by next year. Collaboration with the Japanese Space Agency on Chandrayaan-4, set to land at the moon’s south pole with an extended lifespan, further demonstrates India’s ambitions in space exploration. The tentative launch date for Chandrayaan-4 is scheduled for 2025 or 2026.
As India makes history with its successful mission, other nations like China and the United States are also vying to reach the moon’s south pole. China’s Chang’e 7 mission, expected in 2026, will target this region. Meanwhile, NASA’s Artemis program aims to not only land an uncrewed robotic device but also send humans to the lunar south pole. The Artemis III mission, slated for 2025, will mark a significant milestone, with the first woman and the first person of color setting foot on the moon. However, NASA has recently acknowledged the possibility of delaying this mission. Russia’s failed attempt, Luna 25, occurred just days before India accomplished its successful landing. The crash is anticipated to have a severe impact on future missions by Roscosmos, with the next one scheduled no earlier than 2028.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
