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Chandrayaan-3's Lander-Rover Begins Busy Day of Exploration on Moon

Chandrayaan-3's lander-rover Pragyan has begun a busy day of exploration on the Moon's south pole. The rover will spend the next few days conducting in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface, while the lander will continue to transmit data back to Earth.

Chandrayaan-3's Lander-Rover Begins Busy Day of Exploration on Moon

Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic lunar touchdown on the moon's surface last evening, marking a monumental achievement that resonates with the aspirations of India's 1.4 billion people and elevating the nation's status within the elite space exploration community.

While the nation rejoices in this remarkable feat, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover now embark on an array of tasks on the lunar expanse. The Pragyan rover has already commenced its explorations on the lunar terrain.

In a morning update, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conveyed, "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." ISRO Chairman S Somanath assured that both the lander and rover are in good health, with Pragyan having successfully disembarked from the Vikram lander. Visual documentation of the two entities may be released soon, he added.

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In the upcoming fortnight, the six-wheeled rover will execute a series of experiments on the moon's surface. The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover are designed for a mission duration of 1 lunar day, equivalent to 14 days on Earth. The lander module carries five specialized payloads tailored for specific tasks on the lunar domain.

The rover's Alpha Particle X-ray spectrometer will facilitate the determination of chemical and mineralogical composition, enriching our comprehension of the lunar surface. Additionally, a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope will analyze the elemental makeup of lunar soil and rocks encompassing the landing area.

The lander incorporates RAMBHA-LP (Langmuir Probe) to gauge near-surface plasma density alterations with time, while ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermo Physical Experiment) will meticulously measure thermal characteristics near the lunar polar region. The Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity will monitor seismicity in proximity to the landing site.

Following two weeks of vigorous operations, the solar-powered rover's activities may gradually decelerate. During this phase, communication will be maintained with the Lander Vikram, which will relay data to ISRO. Direct communication with the rover is not established.

The triumph of the Chandrayaan mission solidified India's status as the first nation to accomplish a spacecraft landing near the moon's south pole, an area with potential stores of frozen water that could serve as valuable resources such as oxygen, fuel, and water.