What's the Status of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 Lander and Rover Revival?

As the sun begins to illuminate the southern pole of the Moon , the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) is preparing to awaken the Chandrayaan-3 's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover.

These spacecraft have been in a state of dormancy for two weeks during the lunar night. With the arrival of sunlight at the Shiv Shakti point, it is anticipated that the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover will recommence their operations.

According to ISRO's statement to India Today, the Chandrayaan-3 landing site in the Moon's south polar region has experienced sunrise, and they are presently awaiting the recharge of batteries. This sunrise holds crucial significance for the project, as it will facilitate the re-establishment of communication with the lander and rover while also supplying the necessary warmth for the instruments to operate.

S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, expressed optimism about the possibility of reviving the lander and rover once the sun rises at the Shivshakti point. The teams will make efforts to awaken the instruments from their dormant state on September 21 and 22. “We can only hope to see the equipment back to life on September 22,” Hindustan Times (HT) quoted Somanath as saying.

Chandrayaan 3, ISRO's third lunar mission, successfully embarked on its journey from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 14th. On August 23rd, it executed a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. This mission comprises an entirely indigenous Lander module (LM), a Propulsion module (PM), and a Rover. Its primary goal is to pioneer and showcase innovative technologies necessary for future interplanetary missions.