India's Lunar Ambassador: Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan Rover Goes to 'Sleep'

Photo: sputniknews.in

India's historic lunar mission took a fascinating turn as the Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover, the first craft to reach the moon's southern pole, was gently put to rest after completing its two-week scientific exploration. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the rover was "set into Sleep mode," equipped with charged batteries and an active receiver, marking a pause in its extraordinary journey. ISRO expressed optimism, saying, "Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments! Else, it will forever stay there as India's lunar ambassador."

 

India's lunar endeavor elevated it to an elite group that includes the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. However, India stood out by successfully reaching the rugged southern pole, shortly after Russia's Luna-25 had an unsuccessful landing attempt.

 

The soft, textbook touchdown of Chandrayaan-3, following a previous failure in 2019, triggered widespread celebration in the world's most populous country. The Indian media hailed it as one of India's greatest scientific achievements.

 

During its mission, Pragyan covered a distance of over 100 meters (330 feet), confirming the presence of key elements such as sulfur, iron, and oxygen on the lunar surface, as reported by ISRO.

 

Now, India sets its sights on the success of a new probe launched to study the sun. This mission involves the observation of solar winds, which can cause disturbances on Earth, often seen as mesmerizing auroras. ISRO reported on Sunday that "the satellite is healthy" and currently in Earth's orbit as it gears up for its extensive 1.5 million-kilometer (930,000-mile) journey.

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