Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Monday that the Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyaan rover came across a 4-meter diameter crater positioned 3 meters ahead of its location on the lunar surface on Sunday.
The rover was commanded to retrace its path and is now safely heading on a new path. The crater is located in the Simpherom region of the Moon’s south pole.
The Pragyaan rover is a small, six-wheeled vehicle that weighs just 26 kilograms. It is equipped with a variety of instruments to study the lunar surface, including a camera, a spectrometer, and a magnetometer.
The rover’s mission is to explore the Moon’s surface for signs of water ice and other resources. It is also expected to study the Moon’s geology and history.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission is India’s third lunar mission. The first two missions, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, were both orbiters. Chandrayaan-3 is the first mission to land a rover on the Moon.
The rover’s encounter with the crater is a minor setback, but it is not expected to have a significant impact on its mission. The rover is still able to operate and explore the lunar surface.
The ISRO is confident that the Pragyaan rover will be able to successfully complete its mission. The rover is expected to operate for at least one year on the Moon.
The successful deployment of the Pragyaan rover is a major milestone for the ISRO. It is a testament to the agency’s growing capabilities in space exploration. The rover’s mission is expected to yield valuable insights into the Moon’s history and composition.
The ISRO is planning to launch a number of other lunar missions in the coming years. These missions will help India to further its understanding of the Moon and its resources.