Shillong, August 24: The lunar rover, designed by India, has successfully descended onto the moon’s surface and is actively exploring its surroundings, as stated by a high-ranking official from the Indian space agency.
As pewr IANS, Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), revealed that the rover made its descent from the lander at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Thursday. It is currently in motion and leaving distinct imprints on the moon’s terrain.
The rover’s wheels are embedded with the emblem of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the national symbol, ensuring that these markings are left behind as it moves.
Dr. Unnikrishnan added that both the rover’s solar panels and the lander’s panels have been deployed successfully.
The primary tasks of the rover involve collecting moon samples, conducting experiments, and transmitting the acquired data back to the lander.
India’s moon lander safely touched down on the lunar surface the previous evening, and it will relay information to the Mission Operations Complex at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.
In response to inquiries about the accuracy of the landing site, Dr. Unnikrishnan stated that based on current data, all operations have proceeded according to plan. A comprehensive assessment will be conducted post-mission to confirm the results.
The combined effort of the moon lander and rover is part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, with an estimated budget of Rs 600 crore.
Comprising a propulsion module (2,148 kg), a lander (1,723.89 kg), and a rover (26 kg), the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is a critical exploration initiative by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The rover features advanced tools like the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) and the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) for analyzing the elemental composition near the landing area.
The lander’s tasks include the Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) for temperature and thermal conductivity measurements, the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) to monitor seismic activity, and the Langmuir Probe (LP) for plasma density assessment. Additionally, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array from NASA is onboard for lunar laser ranging studies.
The mission lifespan of both the rover and the lander is approximately 1 Lunar day, equivalent to 14 Earth days, as stated by ISRO.
The propulsion module is equipped with the Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload, facilitating spectral and Polarimetric observations of Earth from the lunar orbit.
Following the ejection of the lander, the propulsion module’s payload is projected to remain operational for three to six months.
ISRO commemorated the event on Twitter: “Chandrayaan-3 ROVER: Made in India, Made for the MOON! The Ch-3 Rover ramped down from the Lander and India took a walk on the moon!”