India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has released new footage of its Chandrayaan-3 rover taking its first steps on the lunar surface. Just hours after successfully landing near the Moon’s south pole, the rover, named Pragyaan (meaning “wisdom” in Sanskrit), slid down a ramp from the Vikram lander and ventured out onto the Moon’s surface. This achievement solidifies India’s place in an exclusive group of countries that have accomplished a soft landing on the Moon, including the US, the Soviet Union, and China.
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The video footage shows the rover exploring the rocky landscape, leaving behind the imprint of the ISRO logo on the Moon’s surface with its six wheels. Pragyaan is equipped with two scientific instruments to analyze the lunar soil and discover the presence of minerals. It will communicate with the lander, which will then relay the information to the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, still orbiting the Moon, for transmission back to Earth.
One of the primary objectives of Chandrayaan-3 is to locate water on the Moon, particularly in the permanently shadowed craters of the south pole. The presence of water could be crucial for future human habitation on the Moon and could potentially be used as propellant for spacecraft traveling to Mars and other distant destinations.
The landing on the lunar surface coincided with the beginning of a lunar day, lasting a little over four weeks on Earth. During this time, the lander and rover will have 14 days of sunlight to charge their batteries before nightfall. It remains uncertain if the instruments will reactivate during the next lunar day.
The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 comes in the wake of Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft experiencing a technical malfunction and crashing into the Moon. India’s achievement marks another milestone in its ambitious space exploration program and its commitment to unraveling the mysteries of the Moon’s south pole.
Source: BBC News
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