Will Pragyan Rover watch the another sunrise on the moon???
In the latest update of the India’s flagship Chandrayaan-3 Mission, the Pragyan Rover has completed all its assignments & it is now safely parked and set into Sleep mode. It’s APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off & the data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander.
Currently, its battery is fully charged & it’s solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023 & its receiver is kept on.
ISRO is hopeful for a successful awakening of Pragyan Rover for another set of assignments. Now the million dollar question arises ” Will the Pragyan Rover watch the another sunrise on the moon?”. As it is designed for only one Lunar day ( A Lunar day is of 14 Earth days) & is now put to sleep mode to prepare for Moon’s long & extremely cold night. Temperature on Moon during lunar night drops to minus 280° C which is hard for Pragyan & Vikram lander to survive. Although it’s battery is fully charged but still there are doubts about it’s awakening. According to ISRO Pragyan & Vikram can wake up on Sept 22, 2023 after the next sunrise on Moon & if it happens, it will be a great achievement for ISRO.
But if the rover didn’t turn up to this, it will remain dysfunctional & is not able to operate & send more data as it is designed for only one Lunar Day.
ISRO on the other hand is not pessimistic. It is still hopeful. ISRO scientists says if it not awakes. It will forever stay there as India’s lunar Ambassador.
