How India is Working to Revive Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram and Pragyan: A Look at the Challenges Ahead
Madhavan Nair, the former ISRO chief, remains hopeful about the possibility of reviving Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, despite their lack of response after two weeks on the moon. Nair likened the process to defrosting something from a deep freezer, highlighting the considerable challenge posed by the moon’s extremely cold surface, which reaches temperatures below -150 degrees Celsius.
“Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover have been in deep sleep for almost two weeks now. It’s almost like taking something out of the freezer and then trying to use it. Temperatures would have crossed -150 degrees Celsius,” Nair told ANI.
Despite the terrifying conditions, ISRO prepares to wake Vikram and Pragyan from ‘hibernation’ after exposing them to the sun’s rays after their initial mission is successfully completed. Vikram’s historic landing at the moon’s south pole on August 23 was an important moment for the mission.
Navigating the challenges of the Moon
Nair further expressed concern about the survival of batteries, electronics and mechanisms in the harsh lunar environment, where temperatures can reach -150 degrees Celsius. However, he assured that extensive field tests had been carried out to ensure their functionality. He noted, “But still, we have to keep our fingers crossed.”
Nair explained that if the rover can be activated, it would provide valuable information about the lunar surface near the south pole. Pragyan, a traveler, could cover some distance in the next 14 days.
Meanwhile, former ISRO scientist Tapan Mishra even called the lander’s awakening a potential miracle. The original design only allowed for 14 days of use, and the moon’s south pole can be as cold as -200 degrees Celsius. Mishra remained hopeful, suggesting that ISRO was likely implementing effective heat control measures.
After landing, Vikram and Pragyan spent about 14 days on the lunar surface performing various tasks such as detecting sulfur and other elements, recording temperatures and observing lunar movements. According to the moon, this is equivalent to two weeks on earth.
Chandrayaan-3’s primary objectives were to achieve a safe and soft landing, explore the lunar surface with the rover and conduct in situ scientific experiments. In early September, Vikram and Pragyan were put into ‘hibernation’.
The challenge for the ISRO team is to revive and sustain these lunar explorers in the extreme conditions of the moon, hoping to continue their pioneering mission.
