Pragyan Rover Sleeping on the Moon: After travelling on the Moon’s surface for almost two weeks, Pragyan Rover has gone into sleeping mode inside Vikram Lander. ISRO has given the latest update on X that the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s rover Pragyan has completed its work in the first stage. The rover is safely inside Vikram and has been put into sleeping mode.
Vikram and the rover are resting on the Moon’s surface. ISRO said it is evening on the Moon, and night will start tomorrow (Earth time) after the sun sets. One night on the Moon is equal to 14 days on Earth. The rover will now rest for the next 14 days. When the rover wakes up after the next 14 days, what will be its next mission? Come, let us know…
Pragyan Rover discovered many elements during its journey on the lunar surface. According to ISRO, the biggest discovery of the rover is Sulfur. Apart from this, many other elements have also been discovered. The next task of the rover is to search for hydrogen. ISRO said, “The rover’s battery is fully charged. According to the solar panels, the Moon’s rise is expected on 22 September 2023. After this, the rover will resume its work.”
ISRO said, “We are excited for the new mission of the rover. We hope it will always remain there as India’s lunar ambassador.”
Why Can’t The Rover Move Around At Night?
The weather at the south pole of the Moon is very adverse. Here, in the presence of the sun, the temperature goes above 100 degrees. But, as soon as it gets dark, the temperature here crosses minus 280 degrees. In such a situation, it can be dangerous for the rover to roam on the Moon at night. In such a severe cold, the rover’s machines may stop working. Therefore, ISRO has put the rover inside Vikram in sleeping mode even before the night starts on the Moon.
Significantly, the 26 kg and six-wheeled rover Pragyan is powered by solar energy. It charges in sunlight and does its job well during the daytime. There is also a danger of battery discharge after nightfall. That’s why the rover has been sent inside Vikram after charging the battery. ISRO said that the APXS and LIBS payloads have been switched off, and data from these payloads is transmitted to Earth through the lander Vikram.
What Has The Rover Discovered?
The rover has discovered minor elements, including Sulfur, and the major expected elements, such as aluminium, silicon, calcium and iron, on the Moon. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument mounted on the rover has also confirmed the presence of Sulfur twice. The rover’s next mission is to search for other important elements, including hydrogen.
