Chandrayaan 3 Lunar Landing: Isro Shares Video of Rover Descending from Lander

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully landed its Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a major success for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon, and the first country to land a spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole.

This mission consists of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. The orbiter is currently in orbit around the Moon, and it will continue to collect data and images of the lunar surface for a period of one year. 

The lander, named Vikram, successfully landed on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023, and it deployed the rover, named Pragyan.

ISRO has released a video of the Chandrayaan-3 rover ramping down the lander. The video was released on August 24, 2023, a day after the successful soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Moon’s south pole.

Video of the Pragyan rover ramping down the lander

ISRO released a video on August 24, 2023, of the Chandrayaan-3 rover ramping down the lander. The video was taken by the Lander Imager Camera (LIC) on the Vikram lander.

The video shows the rover, named Pragyan, being lowered down from the lander using a robotic arm. The rover is then seen rolling off the lander and onto the lunar surface. 

This video is a welcome sight for the scientists and engineers at ISRO. It is a sign that the Chandrayaan-3 mission is a success, and it is a major step forward in India’s exploration of the Moon.

Let us discover some more about the rover Pragyan.

About The Pragyan rover

The Pragyan rover is a small, six-wheeled vehicle that is part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. It is named after the Sanskrit word for “wisdom”. The rover is designed to explore the lunar surface for up to 14 days. 

It is actually about the size of a microwave oven and weighs about 26 kilograms. It is powered by solar panels and has a maximum speed of 1 cm per second. The rover is equipped with six wheels that allow it to move over a variety of terrain.

Here are the  scientific instruments that are included in the Pragyan:

• A panoramic camera that will take high-resolution images of the lunar surface.
• A spectrometer that will analyze the composition of the lunar soil.
• A drill that will collect samples of the lunar soil for further analysis.
• A magnetometer that will measure the magnetic field of the Moon.
• A seismometer that will detect vibrations on the lunar surface.

This rover is expected to make a number of important discoveries about the Moon’s south pole. 

It is possible that the rover will find evidence of water ice, which is a valuable resource that could be used to support future human exploration of the Moon. The rover could also provide new insights into the formation and evolution of the Moon.

Must Read: India’s Chandrayaan-3 Mission: A Second Chance to Land on the Moon’s South Pole

Why is landing on the Moon’s South Pole such a big deal?

The south pole of the Moon is a big deal because it is thought to contain water ice. Water ice is a valuable resource that could be used to support future human exploration of the Moon. 

It can be used to produce oxygen and hydrogen, which are essential for breathing and rocket fuel. It can also be used to make water, which is essential for drinking and growing food.

In addition to water ice, the south pole of the Moon is also thought to contain other resources, such as minerals and metals. These resources could be used to build a permanent base on the Moon or to support future missions to Mars.

The south pole of the Moon is also a scientifically interesting place. It is thought to be the oldest part of the Moon, and it may contain evidence of the early formation of the Moon.

For how long will the Chandrayaan-3 mission operate?

The ISRO is planning to operate the Chandrayaan-3 mission for a period of one year. During this time, the orbiter, lander, and rover will collect data and images of the Moon’s south pole. 

This data will help scientists to better understand the formation and evolution of the Moon, and to search for signs of water ice.

The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a major achievement for India, and it is a significant contribution to the global exploration of space.