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Chandrayaan-3 Update: Pragyan Goes to Sleep, Hopes to Wake Up on September 22

Chandrayaan-3 Update: Rover Pragyan enters sleep mode as ISRO eyes a potential awakening on the next lunar sunrise, September 22. Stay tuned for lunar updates.
Est: 5 min
Updated: September 7, 2023
Chandrayaan-3 Update
Sources: ISRO

Chandrayaan-3 Update:

Chandrayaan 3's rover 'Pragyaan' has successfully completed its tasks on the lunar surface and has entered a state of dormancy, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This decision follows ISRO's Chief, S Somanath, announcing earlier that both the lunar mission's rover and lander, 'Pragyaan' and 'Vikram,' were functioning well and would be put into a "sleep" mode to endure the lunar night.

pragyan

ISRO shared on the social media platform: "The Rover has completed its assigned tasks and is now safely parked in Sleep mode. The APXS and LIBS payloads have been powered down, with data from these instruments being transmitted to Earth via the Lander."

Sunday, which marks the 12th day since India's historic soft landing on the lunar surface, will see both Vikram and Pragyan resting for the night, as confirmed by Chandrayaan-3 project director P Veeramuthuvel in an exclusive conversation with TOI.

moon

Veeramuthuvel highlighted Pragyan's impressive performance, saying, "The rover has covered more than 100 meters in just 10 days, surpassing the achievements of several other missions that lasted up to six months but only managed 100-120 meters. The command to put the rover to sleep will be executed on Sunday after conducting necessary tests."

What happens if Chandrayaan 3's rover 'Pragyaan' fails to awaken?

Currently, the battery is fully charged, and the solar panel is positioned to capture the upcoming sunlight at the expected sunrise on September 22, 2023. The receiver remains active, as stated in the post. The post also expresses hope for a successful reawakening for another series of tasks. Alternatively, it acknowledges the possibility that the rover 'Pragyaan' may remain on the lunar surface indefinitely, serving as India's lunar envoy, outlining this scenario.

Regarding the decision for an early sleep mode, given that the originally planned operational life for the lander and rover was 14 Earth days, Veeramuthuvel explained, "We exclude the initial two and final two days from our calculations. The lunar day commenced on August 22, and our landing occurred nearly at the conclusion of the second day. Since then, both Vikram and Pragyan have outperformed our expectations. All mission objectives have been successfully accomplished, and we will transition to sleep mode tomorrow (Sunday)."

vikram as seen by pragyan

During its brief stay on the Moon, Pragyan has reportedly covered a distance exceeding 100 meters as of September 2, marking the 10th day since its deployment, which took place shortly after Vikram's gentle landing on August 23.

P Veeramuthuvel, the Chandrayaan-3 project director, emphasized, "Specifically focusing on the rover, we have managed to traverse over 100 meters in just 10 days. This achievement surpasses the performance of several other missions, some of which endured for as long as six months but covered only 100-120 meters."

FAQ's

What is Chandrayaan 3 sleep mode?

On Sunday, September 2, ISRO revealed that Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover had successfully finished its tasks and had been placed in a "sleep mode," with its scientific instruments powered down. ISRO shared this update in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, mentioning, "At present, the battery is fully charged."

Will Chandrayaan 3 wake up?

ISRO disclosed that the Vikram Lander and the lunar rover, Pragyan, will remain in a dormant condition until their solar power runs out and their batteries are depleted. The agency expects to reawaken them around September 22, 2023.

Why pragyan rover is in sleep mode?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that Chandrayaan 3's rover 'Pragyaan' has concluded its tasks on the lunar surface and has been placed into sleep mode to endure the lunar night. ISRO stated, "The Rover has successfully finished its assignments and is now securely parked in Sleep mode."

What is the position of Chandrayaan 2?

The Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is currently circling the Moon in a polar orbit, maintaining an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles). It is equipped with eight scientific instruments, including two upgraded versions of those utilized in the Chandrayaan-1 mission. The orbiter had an estimated launch mass of 2,379 kilograms (5,245 pounds).

What happens during sleep mode?

Sleep mode is a power-saving state in which a computer conserves energy. While in sleep mode, the computer retains its current state in memory, but it powers down other components, effectively consuming no energy. When you wake up the computer from sleep mode, it quickly resumes its previous state, eliminating the need to wait for a full boot-up process.

Is Chandrayaan 1 success or failure?

Following nearly a year of challenges, including technical issues and a loss of contact on August 29, 2009, ISRO officially concluded the mission. Chandrayaan had a mission duration of 312 days, falling short of the intended two-year mission timeline. However, it achieved a significant success rate, fulfilling 95% of its planned objectives.

What is the Vikram Lander?

On September 3, 2023, ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 lander, known as Vikram, conducted a hop experiment. During this experiment, the lander engaged its engines, ascended by approximately 40 centimeters as planned, and executed a secure landing within the South Pole region of the Moon at a distance of 30 to 40 centimeters from its intended target point known as the Shiv Shakti Point (69.373 S, 32.319E).

Will Pragyan rover wake up?

ISRO disclosed that the Vikram Lander and the lunar rover, Pragyan, will stay in a passive state until their solar power is exhausted and their batteries are depleted. The agency expects to reactivate them around September 22, 2023. Previously, ISRO had announced that Vikram had successfully completed a gentle landing on the lunar surface for the second time.

Is Chandrayaan-3 successful?

Chandrayaan-3: India Joins Elite Group as Fourth Nation to Land on the Moon. India's Chandrayaan-3 lander accomplished a successful lunar landing on Wednesday, marking India as the fourth country to achieve this remarkable feat.

Who invented Chandrayaan-3?

Aerospace engineer S. Somanath played a crucial role in designing the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, also known as the Bahuballi rocket, responsible for propelling Chandrayaan-3 into orbit. He is widely regarded as a capable leader whom the scientists and engineers at ISRO greatly respect and admire.

Who made Chandrayaan-3?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is responsible for Chandrayaan-3, which marks the third mission in the Chandrayaan program—an initiative aimed at lunar exploration and development led by ISRO.

Is Chandrayaan-3 is a satellite or a rocket?

Chandrayaan 3 is indeed a satellite launched into space by a rocket. Its successful mission highlights India's expertise in the field of space science.

What is the size of Chandrayaan-3?

The Chandrayaan-3 lander measures around 2 meters in height and weighs approximately 1,700 kilograms, making it similar in size to an SUV.

Why is Chandrayaan-3 important?

BENGALURU: The Chandrayaan-3 lander, named Vikram, has reached another notable achievement on the Moon by executing a hop, potentially offering valuable insights for upcoming missions focused on sample return. "The Vikram Lander surpassed its mission goals, completing a successful hop experiment.

Check Out "India make history in the World: Chandrayaan-3 soft landing on moon."

chandrayaan-3 soft landing

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