One sentence summary – India’s space agency, Isro, is working to reestablish contact with its Moon lander and rover after they successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole but potentially suffered battery damage due to extreme cold temperatures during the lunar night.
At a glance
- Isro is working to reestablish contact with its Moon lander and rover
- The lander and rover successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole in August
- Isro had anticipated the batteries would recharge and the modules would reawaken on September 22
- The extreme cold of the lunar night may have potentially damaged the batteries
- Isro has been actively updating the public on social media about its ongoing efforts to establish communication with the lander and rover
The details
India’s space agency, Isro, is currently working to reestablish contact with its Moon lander and rover.
The lander and rover successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole in August.
For two weeks, they conducted data gathering activities before entering sleep mode.
Isro had anticipated the batteries would recharge and the modules would reawaken with the sunrise on September 22.
However, the extreme cold of the lunar night may have potentially damaged the batteries.
Isro has been actively updating the public on social media about its ongoing efforts to establish communication with the lander and rover.
India’s Achievement
India achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole through its Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The landing was strategically timed to coincide with the start of a lunar day.
This timing would provide two weeks of sunlight for the lander and rover to operate.
Throughout the mission, Isro has been providing regular updates on the movements and findings of the lander and rover.
Images captured by the modules have also been shared by Isro.
It is important to note that night temperatures near the lunar south pole can reach extremely low levels.
Temperatures can drop to as low as -200C to -250C (-328F to -418F).
Such extreme temperatures might adversely affect the batteries’ ability to operate optimally.
Isro has stated that if the lander and rover do not wake up, they will remain on the Moon.
In such a case, they would serve as India’s lunar ambassador.
Despite the challenges, Isro remains committed to its mission.
The agency will continue its efforts to establish communication with the modules.
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A small spacecraft surrounded by stars, with a faint signal reaching towards the Moon’s surface.
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| bbc.co.uk |
|---|
| – India’s space agency, Isro, is attempting to establish contact with its Moon lander and rover as a new lunar day begins. |
| – The lander and rover touched down near the Moon’s south pole in August and spent two weeks gathering data before entering sleep mode. |
| – Isro hoped that the batteries would recharge and the modules would reawaken when the Sun rose on September 22. – |
| It is possible that the extreme cold of the lunar night may have damaged the batteries. – Isro has posted on social media that efforts to establish communication will continue. – India became the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole with its Chandrayaan-3 mission. – |
| The landing was planned to coincide with the start of a lunar day, providing two weeks of sunlight for the lander and rover to work with. – |
| The space agency has provided regular updates on their movements and findings, sharing images taken by them. |
| – Night temperatures near the lunar south pole can reach as low as -200C to -250C (-328F to -418F), which may affect the batteries’ ability to operate. |
| – Isro has stated that if the lander and rover do not wake up, they will remain on the Moon as India’s lunar ambassador. |
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