Chandrayaan-3’s rover Pragyan could not clearly leave the impression of the national emblem and ISRO logo on the lunar surface. i.e. Shiva Shakti The land around the point has more stone than soil. This is a good news because it will let scientist know the reality of that surface.
Surface Characteristics for Future Settlement
Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan Rover was going to leave a mark of the national emblem and ISRO logo on its rear wheels on the lunar surface. But these marks are not that clear Became as much as was expected. That means the surface around Shiv Shakti Point is rocky. There the surface of the moon is solid.
Chandrayaan-3: The area around the Southand Pole especially the area of Shiv Shakti Point can be selected for human settlement in future. In such a situation, it is very important to have information about this surface. Like whether drilling can be done there or not. Is there water or not? Whether the surface is strong or not. What is the environment like below the surface? All this information will be beneficial in future.
ISRO’s Lunar Terrain Discoveries
- Chandrayaan-3: ISRO scientists observed that the national emblem and ISRO logo marks on the Pragyan rover’s wheels were not visible on the lunar surface.
- This lack of visibility led to the acquisition of new information and a deeper understanding of the lunar terrain.
- One significant discovery was that there is no soil present on the moon’s surface.
Despite the absence of soil, scientists aimed to determine the composition of the lunar surface material. - These findings have opened up avenues for further research and exploration of the moon’s composition and geology.
Moon’s surface is lumpy, that’s why no mark was made
The moon’s soil is actually not very dusty. Rather it is lumpy. This means that there are some elements which bind the soil. Make a lump out of them. Pragyan Rover has now walked 105 meters around Shiv Shakti Point. This rover has been sleeping for more than 18 days. Efforts are being made to awaken it
What are the instruments in the rover that were being investigated?
Chandrayaan-3: The Pragyan Rover has two important tools on board for its scientific work:
- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): This tool help the rover figure out what elements like magnesium, aluminum, silicon, and others are in the rocks and soil near its landing spot on the moon.
- Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): This tool helps the rover learn about the chemicals on the moon’s surface and look for valuable minerals.
On the morning of August 25, 2023, ISRO released a video showing the rover coming down from its lander onto the moon’s surface.
Chandrayaan-3 See the X-ray of Pragyan Rover, what’s inside?
Clockwise from the top:
- Solar Panel: It captures energy from the sun to power the rover. The hinge that connects it to the rover is visible below.
- Nav Camera (Navigation Camera): There are two of these cameras, which help the rover see its path and decide which direction to move.
- Chassis: This is the body of the rover.
- Solar Panel Hold Down: This system manages the solar panel when it’s folded down.
- Six-Wheel Drive Assembly: These are the wheels of the rover.
- Rocker Bogie: It helps the wheels move smoothly on rough terrain.
- Rover Hold Down: Keeps the rover anchored to the ground when it’s not moving.
- Warm Electronics Box: It contains electronic systems designed to work well in hot environments.
- Imprint: Indicates instructions for the rover’s operation.
- Differentials: Walls or barriers that separate different parts of the rover.
- Antenna: Used for communication with the lander.