India's Chandrayaan-3 rover revelations may include a spectacular lunar sunrise
India's Chandrayaan-3 rover Pragyan is parked near the moon’s south pole, waiting in the dark to be reactivated by the space agency ISRO during the next lunar sunrise Sept. 22.
At a speed of about 4 inches per second, Pragyan has traveled about 330 feet in a roughly L-shaped route over two weeks, analyzing lunar rock samples and searching for water ice. Over two weeks it has detected traces of sulphur, iron, oxygen and other elements, the Indian Space Research Organization said.
The Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram was the first craft in history to land near the moon's south pole. It landed about 70 degrees north of the pole on Aug. 23 and deployed Pragyan a day later.
The rover and lander charge their batteries with sunlight. Both were put in "sleep mode" on Sept. 2, ISRO said on on X, formerly Twitter. Their batteries are fully charged, and their solar panels are positioned to receive light at sunrise.
Where is India's Chandrayaan-3 rover now?
Chandrayaan-3 landed after Russia's Luna-25 crashed into the lunar surface Aug. 21 while preparing for a pre-landing orbit of the moon. The Russian space agency Roscosmos said the craft "ceased its existence as a result of a collision with the lunar surface."
What has the moon rover discovered?
The confirmation of sulphur is the first discovery of the element near the moon's south pole. It's considered significant because it has applications in lunar exploration, including its use for storage batteries and in construction, Live Science reported.
It's not certain Pragyan can be restarted. If it can, the vehicle will search for water ice and traces of hydrogen, which could be used to make water and rocket fuel.
Water ice on the moon – discovered by NASA and India – is the holy grail of future lunar exploration. The water, which could be extracted and used for drinking, breathing and for rocket fuel, makes the area a prime target for long-term exploration of the moon and beyond, NASA says.
"Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments!" ISRO said on X. "Else, it will forever stay there as India's lunar ambassador."
Chandrayaan-3's successful touchdown made India the fourth nation in history, along with the U.S., Russia/Soviet Union, and China, to land a craft on the moon.
SOURCE Paste BN Network reporting and research; ISRO; Associated Press; livescience.com