Chandrayaan 3 Rover 'Pragyaan' Put into Sleep Mode on Moon

ISRO puts Chandrayaan 3 rover 'Pragyaan' to sleep as it completes its assignments on the moon's surface. The announcement was made just hours after ISRO's chief S Somanath confirmed that both the rover "Pragyaan" and the lander "Vikram" were functioning optimally and would be temporarily put to rest.

"The Rover completed its assignments. It is now safely parked and set into Sleep mode. APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off. Data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander," ISRO said in a post on social media platform X.

“Currently, the battery is fully charged. The solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023. The receiver is kept on. Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments! Else, it will forever stay there as India's lunar ambassador,” ISRO added.

ISRO through its official announcement has reported that the rover's battery is fully charged and the solar panel is positioned to receive light at the next lunar sunrise expected on 22nd September 2023 while the receiver is still active. ISRO remains hopeful for a successful awakening of the rover for another set of assignments.

However, the space agency also acknowledges the possibility that the rover may not awaken from its hibernation mode. In this scenario, it is said that 'Pragyaan' would remain on the Moon indefinitely, serving as India's lunar ambassador.

During the scientific endeavor of the Pragyaan rover, in its short but eventful stay on the moon's surface, it has achieved significant milestones. The rover is equipped with two crucial payloads

• Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)
• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS)

Both of these instruments are integral in transmitting data to Earth via the lander and are essential for analyzing the elemental and mineralogical composition of lunar soil and rocks.

Pragyaan rover and the Vikram lander have worked together in terms of gathering valuable scientific data. They have provided vital insights into the lunar surface including confirmation of the presence of elements such as sulfur, iron, and oxygen.

Looking forward to the future scientists and space enthusiasts await the rover's potential reawakening as 'Pragyaan' drifts into its lunar sleep. Whatever the outcomes will be whether it continues its scientific endeavors or serves as a silent sentinel on the Moon's surface it will be a testament to India's growing prowess in space exploration.