As the silence from India’s moon lander and rover continues, optimism wanes among scientists who have been unable to re-establish communication since the spacecraft went into hibernation mode to endure the freezing lunar night.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission celebrated a major achievement when it successfully landed on the moon’s southern pole in August, following a lengthy interstellar journey.
The rover conducted critical lunar surface research for over a week.
On September 2, to shield the spacecraft from the moon’s extreme cold during its nights, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover were effectively put to sleep.
Initial hopes were pinned on their reawakening around September 22, coinciding with the return of sunlight to recharge its batteries.
Unfortunately, the scientists’ efforts to re-establish contact have yielded no results, and prospects for revival appear increasingly uncertain.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) maintains its dedication to the task, committing to ongoing communication attempts until September 30, aligning with the next lunar sunset.
Prior to initiating the sleep mode for the lander and rover, ISRO emphasised the mission’s success.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission firmly positioned India as the fourth nation to achieve a lunar landing and the first to reach the moon’s southern pole.
The historic landing captivated the attention of millions and swelled national pride, with Prime Minister Modi characterising it as “a triumphant cry from a reinvigorated India”.
During its time on the moon, the Pragyaan rover validated the presence of sulfur, iron, oxygen, and various other elements on the moon’s surface.
