India Latest to Land on the Moon
Credit: Unsplash
Pragyan Rover and ChaSTE Experiment Lead the Way
India’s remarkable Chandrayaan-3 mission has left an indelible mark on space history, solidifying its place as a pioneering force in lunar exploration. On August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 achieved a significant milestone by successfully landing a spacecraft near the south pole of the moon, becoming the first nation to achieve this feat and the fourth to make contact with Earth’s celestial companion.
But the journey was just beginning. Since its momentous landing, Chandrayaan-3 has been actively engaged in uncovering the mysteries of the lunar surface. The deployment of the rover, aptly named Pragyan, marked a monumental step in the mission’s progression. Pragyan has ventured into the cratered expanse, diligently traversing the lunar landscape and sending back awe-inspiring videos of its surroundings.
On August 26, a captivating video surfaced on X (formerly known as Twitter), showcasing Pragyan’s exploration of the landing site, now christened the Shiv Shakti Point. The video captured the gold-hued rover as it delicately maneuvered on the lunar soil, leaving behind two intricate tracks in its wake. The sight of Pragyan navigating the desolate gray terrain evoked a sense of charm and wonder.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
Smile, please📸!
Pragyan Rover clicked an image of Vikram Lander this morning.
The 'image of the mission' was taken by the Navigation Camera onboard the Rover (NavCam).
NavCams for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission are developed by the Laboratory for… pic.twitter.com/Oece2bi6zE
— ISRO (@isro) August 30, 2023
Building upon this achievement, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) provided an update outlining the mission’s progress. An extensive checklist, posted on X, highlighted the successful soft landing, Pragyan’s deployment, and the initiation of scientific experiments on the moon’s surface. “All payloads are performing normally,” ISRO proudly announced, underscoring the meticulous planning and execution of the mission.
As the excitement mounted, ISRO divulged insights into one of Chandrayaan-3’s pivotal payloads—the ChaSTE experiment (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment). This innovative endeavor employs a temperature probe along with ten temperature sensors to meticulously measure temperature profiles of the lunar south pole soil. The primary objective of ChaSTE is to unravel the intricate thermal behavior of the moon’s surface.
In a groundbreaking development, ISRO unveiled a graph illustrating the temperature variations at different depths of the lunar surface. The experiment’s findings marked a significant breakthrough, constituting the “first such profile for the lunar south pole.” This accomplishment stands as a testament to India’s prowess in space research and its commitment to unraveling the moon’s mysteries.
Chandrayaan-3 s journey is far from over. As it continues its exploration and data collection, the mission promises to reshape our understanding of the lunar environment. India’s strides in space exploration serve as an inspiration to the global scientific community, fostering collaboration and innovation that will undoubtedly propel humanity’s quest for knowledge beyond our terrestrial boundaries.
