Chandrayaan 3: ISRO Chief Confirms Lander and Rover in Good Health, Hints at Future Challenges

New Delhi, August 24, 2023: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath provided an update on the status of Chandrayaan 3’s mission, revealing that both the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover are in excellent condition and operational.

Somanath mentioned that further movements are planned for the mission. He cautioned, however, about the challenges that the moon mission might encounter.

“Both the Lander and Rover are perfectly healthy and everything is working very well. There will be further movements. Due to the absence of atmosphere on the Moon, objects can hit from anywhere. Along with that, there is a thermal issue and communication blackout problem,” Somanath stated to news agency PTI.

He explained the potential risks posed by space objects, emphasizing the moon’s surface marked by past collisions. Somanath clarified that the Earth’s atmosphere plays a role in preventing space objects from impacting its surface.

India achieved a historic milestone on Wednesday by becoming the first country to successfully land on the lunar south pole. The ‘Vikram’ lander of Chandrayaan 3 made a soft landing on the moon’s surface at 6:04 PM IST, eliciting celebrations nationwide.

Earlier, ISRO had reported that the Pragyan rover had successfully detached from the lander and was “taking a walk on the moon.” The rover carries instruments related to elemental composition and chemical analysis of the moon’s surface.

Somanath expressed pride and excitement about the mission’s achievements. “We look forward to more challenging tasks,” he said, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to continuous progress.

He also confirmed that ISRO’s upcoming mission, ‘Aditya,’ focused on solar exploration, is on track for launch next month.

The successful Chandrayaan 3 mission marks another significant step in India’s space exploration endeavors, highlighting ISRO’s dedication to pushing boundaries and advancing scientific knowledge.