The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shared that Chandrayaan
3’s Vikram Lander had been set into sleep mode around 08 am.
“Vikram Lander is set into sleep mode around 08:00 hours. Prior to
that, in-situ experiments by ChaSTE, RAMBHA-LP and ILSA payloads are performed
at the new location. The data collected is received at the Earth,” it said.
The space agency further informed that the lander’s payloads have
been deactivated, while its receivers remain operational.
“Vikram will fall asleep next to Pragyan once the solar power is
depleted and the battery is drained. Hoping for their awakening, around
September 22, 2023,” it said, sharing images from before and after the hop.
The Vikram Lander had earlier successfully attempted a soft landing
for the second time today.
ISRO has already activated the sleep mode of Pragyan Rover. The
battery is fully charged, the receiver is kept on and the solar panel is
oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22.
Chandrayaan 3 mission’s achievements so far
1. Rover Exploration: Prior to activating the Pragyan rover’s sleep
mode, ISRO reported that it covered a distance of over 100 meters. Notably, the
rover’s communication range is limited to 500 meters from the Vikram lander.
2. Historic Sulphur Discovery: The Laser-Induced Breakdown
Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument onboard the rover unequivocally confirmed the
presence of Sulphur (S) in the lunar surface near the South Pole, representing
a ground breaking in-situ measurement. Additionally, LIBS detected Al, Ca, Fe,
Cr, Ti, Mn, Si, and O.
3. Pioneering Plasma Measurements: The Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound
Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) payload
onboard Chandrayaan 3 Lander conducted ground breaking measurements of the
near-surface lunar plasma environment over the South Polar Region. Preliminary
assessments suggest relatively sparse plasma near the lunar surface. These
quantitative measurements hold promise for mitigating interference in radio wave
communication and enhancing future lunar mission designs.
4. Seismic Activity Recording: The Instrument for the Lunar Seismic
Activity (ILSA) payload on Chandrayaan 3 Lander, the first Micro Electro
Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology-based instrument on the moon, recorded the
movements of the rover and other payloads. Additionally, it captured an event
on August 26, deemed to be of natural origin, which is currently under
investigation.
5. Thermal Behaviour Exploration: The ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical
Experiment) instrument measured the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil
around the pole to better understand the thermal characteristics of the moon’s
surface. Equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism capable of reaching a
depth of 10 cm beneath the surface and featuring 10 individual temperature
sensors, the probe generated a temperature variation graph for the lunar
surface/near-surface at various depths during its penetration. This marked the
first such profile for the lunar South Pole, with ongoing detailed
observations.
6. Alternate Sulphur Confirmation: Another instrument onboard the
rover corroborated the presence of Sulphur (S) in the region using a distinct
technique. The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) detected S alongside
other minor elements. This finding has prompted scientists to explore new
theories regarding the source of Sulphur (S) in the area, including intrinsic,
volcanic, meteoritic, and other possibilities.
