The Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2 announced that the Pragyan Rover module has been transitioned into a ‘sleep mode’.
ISRO Hoping To Wake Rover Up On September 22
The development comes after the successful completion of its assigned tasks on the lunar surface. The ISRO further announced that the next lunar sunrise is anticipated on September 22.
The space agency is optimistic about the rover’s successful reactivation for a new series of missions.
“The Rover has fulfilled its mission objectives and is now securely in Sleep mode. Key payloads, such as APXS and LIBS, have been powered down, with data relayed to Earth through the Lander. Currently, the rover’s battery is fully charged, and its solar panel is positioned to capture sunlight during the upcoming lunar sunrise on September 22, 2023. The receiver remains operational, and we are hopeful for a seamless reawakening to embark on new assignments. Otherwise, it will forever remain a symbol of India’s lunar presence,” stated the ISRO.
The Pragyan Rover was rolled out on the Moon after the successful landing of the Vikram Lander on August 23.
Launched on July 14, the success of Chandrayaan-3 marked India as the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface.
