Chandrayaan 3 Nears Lunar Night Sleep Mode as ISRO Keeps Moon Mission Thriving

New Delhi, Sep 02, 2023: As the Chandrayaan 3 mission reaches the end of its planned exploration phase, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is readying the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover for a crucial “sleep mode” operation. Lunar nights, equivalent to 14 Earth days, bring temperatures plummeting below -200 degrees Celsius, posing a threat to the spacecraft’s systems.

ISRO’s Chief, S Somanath, announced this development and revealed that both the Pragyan rover and Vikram lander remain operational. He stated, “The Pragyan rover and Vikram lander are still functional. We are commencing the process of placing both of them into sleep mode in the next one to two days as they need to tolerate the lunar night.”

Somanath also shared that the rover has covered a distance of approximately 100 meters from the lander.

ISRO has been consistently sharing data from the Chandrayaan 3 mission, including information on the Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) payload recording an intriguing event. Although appearing natural, the source of this event is under investigation.

Additionally, the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) successfully identified sulphur and other minor elements on the lunar terrain, enhancing our understanding of lunar composition.

The mission’s progress coincides with the successful launch of Aditya L1, India’s first space-based mission to study the Sun. Lifted off on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, this mission aims to observe the Sun’s corona and gain insights into its extreme heat.

As Chandrayaan 3 continues its mission, ISRO remains at the forefront of lunar exploration and solar research, contributing significantly to our understanding of these celestial bodies.