Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday said that both Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover have now entered hibernation mode, commonly referred to as 'sleep' mode. This strategic decision is essential to ensure their survival during the lunar night
As night descends upon the Lunar South Pole, temperatures plunge to an astonishingly cold -200 degrees Celsius. This extreme cold poses a significant threat of freezing the rover and lander, which could potentially harm their critical instruments. Although the mission was initially designed for a 14-day duration, the thorough planning in place offers optimism for a successful reactivation, enabling ISRO to continue their exploration endeavours
At present, the battery is at maximum charge, and the solar panel has been positioned to harness the incoming sunlight at the upcoming sunrise on September 22, 2023. However, the receiver remains active, awaiting the potential resumption of its mission
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Immediately before entering sleep mode, the lander executed a brief "hop" manoeuvre, activating its thrusters to move approximately 16 inches (40 centimetres) closer to the dormant Pragyan rover. This hop can be regarded as a trial run for a potential future mission involving the retrieval of lunar samples, which would require a launch from the moon's surface
Preliminary analysis revealed the existence of various elements on the lunar surface, such as Aluminium (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), Titanium (Ti), Manganese (Mn), Silicon (Si), and Oxygen (O)
Contingent upon the survival of the lander and rover through the lunar night, the research efforts from September 22 will be concentrated on identifying the potential presence of Hydrogen on the lunar surface. Discovery of Hydrogen could be a game changer on how the humans and other space missions could travel and explore the realms of the cosmic universe
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel and, when combined with oxygen, as a propellant for rockets. This could potentially serve as a valuable resource for future lunar missions, reducing the need to transport fuel from Earth, which is expensive and logistically challenging
Hydrogen is a key component of water (H2O). If hydrogen is found on the Moon, it can be combined with oxygen (which is also present on the Moon in the form of oxides) to produce water. Water is essential for sustaining human life, and it can also be used for drinking, irrigation, and oxygen generation
Hydrogen can be used to generate electricity through fuel cells. This could provide a sustainable source of power for lunar habitats and equipment, reducing the reliance on solar panels and batteries
Discovering hydrogen on the Moon helps scientists gain a better understanding of the Moon's composition and history. It can provide insights into the Moon's geological processes and its formation
If hydrogen is available on the Moon, it could potentially serve as a refuelling station for spacecraft traveling to more distant destinations in space, such as Mars. This could make long-duration space missions more feasible