What will Chandrayaan-3’s lander do now?
With Chandrayaan-3’s successful soft landing, India became the first country to land a spacecraft on the moon’s south pole.
After landing, the Vikram lander released the Pragyan rover. These machines will work for 14 days and carry various scientific equipment. They will help us learn about the moon's south pole.
The lander and the rover will help scientists understand the moon’s surface and atmosphere. They will also check the soil near the landing zone. Also, a soft landing on the moon’s South Pole is a big achievement.
Why is a soft landing on the lunar south pole an achievement?
A soft landing on the moon’s south pole is difficult. All previous spacecraft have landed near the equator. That's because the ground is flatter and easier to land on there.
But the south pole is rugged. It also doesn’t receive proper sunlight, making it very cold there. That’s why landing there is tricky.
Why is it important to learn about the moon’s south pole?
Scientists believe the moon's south pole has water ice (they also found proof of this). This is important for the future. The water can be used for drinking, making oxygen, cooling equipment, etc., for future missions.
Scientists think the water can also tell us about moon volcanoes, stuff that came to Earth from comets and asteroids, and how oceans formed. Let's hope Chandrayaan-3's lander and rover can help provide some information during their 14-day mission.
What will happen to the rover and lander after 14 days?
After 14 days, it will be night on the moon. This will last for 14 days too. It's going to get really cold, and there won't be any sunlight. Vikram and Pragyan can only work in the sun, so they will stop functioning. Also, both of them are designed to work for 14 days only.
However, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists think that there’s a chance that they might start functioning again when the sun rises again on the moon. Let’s hope they do.
