India’s moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, is a technological endeavor of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The mission successfully performed a controlled descent to the Moon’s south pole on August 23. Recently, the Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan Rover was able to identify sulfur on the surface of the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3 mission: The rover is rotated in search of a safe path. The rotation was captured by the Lander Imager camera.
It seems as if the child is playfully frolicking in the yard of Chandamama, while the mother watches him tenderly. Isn’t it?🙂 pic.twitter.com/w5FwFZzDMp
— ISRO (@isro)
August 31, 2023
Nicknamed “Pragyan”, which means “wisdom” in Sanskrit, the rover has undertaken a number of empirical investigations since its deployment from the Vikram module. By diligently probing the lunar soil and collecting data, Pragyan contributed to a more nuanced understanding of the moon’s composition. However, as the lunar night begins, the rover’s operational phase will come to an end, symbolizing the end of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Chandrayaan-3 mission: science experiments on site
Another instrument on the Rover confirms the presence of Sulfur (S) in the region, using a different technique.
The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) detected S, as well as other minor elements.
This one… pic.twitter.com/lkZtz7IVSY
— ISRO (@isro)
August 31, 2023
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The main goal of this mission was to land softly on the surface of the Moon, explore its topography and gather irreplaceable scientific knowledge. A key aspiration of the Chandrayaan-3 venture was to investigate the presence of water resources. The scientific community claims that the eternally shadowed craters on the Moon’s south polar expanse potentially harbor ice deposits, with possible implications for eventual human habitation on the Moon.
READ I| Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Pragyan Rover Confirms Sulfur on Moon’s South Pole
When will the Chandrayaan-3 mission end?
The curtain is set to fall on the operational phase of Chandrayaan-3 during the next week, which is due to the lunar night phenomenon. This time interval, which spans approximately 14 Earth days, occurs because the moon’s surface remains without sunlight. This calm phase results from the Moon’s rotational dynamics, and covers a period of approximately 28 days. During half of this orbital span, the Moon’s surface was illuminated by sunlight, while the rest languished in darkness. A parallel can be drawn with the fluctuations of the Earth’s daylight, which result from its axial tilt.
Regardless of the imminent completion of this mission, Chandrayaan-3 represents a commendable achievement for India. It highlights India’s prowess in achieving safe lunar landings and surface exploration, a feat that made India only the fourth nation to successfully land on the moon also at the South Pole. Furthermore, this mission has aroused global curiosity, fueling the enthusiasm of various nations and private companies to explore the potential resources located within the Moon’s south polar enclave.
READ I| Japan’s 2023 Moon Mission: Launch Date, Time, Live Stream, Budget & More
Will Pragyan Rover survive the lunar night?
For 14 consecutive nights of 24 hours long, Pragyan will endure the extreme cold which drops to -230 degrees Celsius in a helpless state. ISRO’s scientific community remains uncertain about the rover’s ability to survive the coming two weeks without sunlight and heat. Even so, there is a modest possibility that upon the reappearance of the moon’s sunlight, Pragyan could re-establish thermal equilibrium, potentially rejuvenating its functionality a few days after sun exposure. We continue to cautiously hope for a favorable outcome.
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Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education