Vikram Lander Captures Video of Earth and Moon Together

The excitement surrounding Chandrayaan-3’s mission to successfully land on the moon is growing exponentially as it progresses. Today, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released videos taken by the Vikram lander. One video, recorded on August 15 by the Lander Position Detection Camera (LPDC) while attached to the propulsion module, offers a clear view of Moon craters. Interestingly, another video captured by the Lander Imager (LI) Camera-1 reveals a glimpse of a tiny Earth in the distant background. Additionally, the first video shows the Moon’s dark side, where the lander will attempt a soft touchdown on August 23.

The video showing the Earth and the Moon was shot right after the separation of the lander and propulsion module, which ISRO managed to accomplish on August 17. You can also see visual images of distant lunar impact craters such as Fabry, Giordano Bruno and Harkhebi J. The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft has previously taken the first images of the Moon after it entered lunar orbit.

As reported by ISRO, on August 17, Chandryaaan-3 completed its fifth lunar orbit after separating from the propulsion module and began its descent towards the lunar surface. Announcing this move, ISRO sent a message to X: “Thanks for the ride, mate!” said the Lander Module (LM). The LM has been successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM).”

What next?

As announced by ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 is now undergoing two orbit reduction missions where it will initially enter a 100 x 100 km orbit before settling into a 100 x 30 orbit. After this, the spacecraft will then make its final landing on the Moon, which is expected to take place on August 23.

The propulsion module will continue in its current orbit for months or even years. The habitable planet SHAPE payload spectropolarimetry inside the module performs a series of experiments. Experiments performed by this propulsion module include a spectroscopic study of Earth’s atmosphere, measuring polarization variations in Earth’s clouds, and collecting signatures of exoplanets that would indicate whether humans can survive on the Moon.

The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the surface of the moon makes India the fourth nation to land on the lunar soil after the United States, the former Soviet Union and China.