Pragyan rover on the Moon: "Like a child frolicking on Chandamama", says ISRO

ISRO explained that this rotation was conducted to search for a safe route for Pragyan rover.

There is a lack of tectonic activities and atmosphere on the Moon, because of which the Moon is filled with craters and they appear to be frozen. (HT_PRINT)

In the meanwhile, India is yet again on its way to achieving a victorious milestone as Aditya-L1 is about to launch in a few hours. Meanwhile, the Chandrayaan-3 mission is on its own journey to explore the Moon. On August 23, 2023, history was made as India's Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully executed a 'soft landing' on the lunar surface, specifically on the Moon's south pole.

Safe Landing of Vikram Lander

The world watched in anticipation as Vikram safely descended to the Moon's surface. The first crucial step in this mission was to deploy Pragyan. As Pragyan rolled out of the lander and onto the Moon's surface, it marked a historic moment as humanity's first representation to explore the lunar south pole region.

ISRO keeps updating about the Pragyan regularly by sharing images and videos on X (formely Twitter).

Pragyan rover taking turns!

In a recent video shared by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Pragyan was observed executing a 180-degree turn. This maneuver was essential as the rover had approached a stunning yet dangerous crater during its exploration.ISRO explained that this rotation was conducted to search for a safe route for Pragyan.

ISRO tweeted on August 31 "The rover was rotated in search of a safe route.The rotation was captured by a Lander Imager Camera. It feels as though a child is playfully frolicking in the yards of Chandamama, while the mother watches affectionately. Isn't it?”

Moon's atmosphere

There is a lack of tectonic activities and atmosphere on the Moon, because of which the Moon is filled with craters and they appear to be frozen. These craters are estimated to be from millions of years ago. Scientists believe that on the permanently shadowed areas of the Moon, there must be the presence of ice, which develops the interest of various space agencies to visit the south pole of the Moon.

Pragyan achieved a significant milestone by confirming the presence of sulfur among other elements. This discovery added another layer of significance to this historic mission. Additionally, on August 30, Pragyan captured, the Vikram lander, in an image from a few meters away, showcasing the remarkable capabilities of this rover.

It will be interesting to witness what other turns this mission takes to reveal the hidden secrets of the Moon.