Chandrayaan-3: What Will Pragyan Rover Do In -180 Degrees When Sun Sets On Moon's South Pole?

India's Lunar Mission- Chandrayaan-3 scripted history after Vikram Lander successfully landed on the south pole of the moon on August 23, 2023

(Image credit: ISRO)

Just a few hours after the Vikram lander touched down the Moon on August 23, 2023, Pragyan rover rolled out of its belly and took its first moon walk leaving the imprints of India's national emblem and ISRO's logo on the surface of the moon.

(Image credit: ISRO)

The Pragyan rover will examine the mineralogical composition of the moon's surface and will also determine the composition of Magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, and Titanium in the moon's soil and rocks around the lunar landing site.

(Image credit: ISRO)

Pragyaan during its moonwalk will remain connected to the Vikram lander and will send the generated data to it. Vikram will then transmit the crucial data to Earth where the ISRO scientists will study it to unravel the mysteries of the lunar surface.  

(Image credit: ISRO)

One day on the moon is equivalent to 14 days on Earth and the same goes for the night. When the sun sets down on the moon the temperature drops to minus 180 degrees or below, hence after 14 earth days (from August 23, 2023), the Pragyan and Vikram will become inactive. 

However, the scientists at ISRO expect that when the sun rises again after 28 days, it is highly possible for Vikram and Pragyan to get reactivated which will bonus reward for India's lunar expedition.

(Image credit: ISRO)

After successfully conducting the experiments on the lunar surface, both Vikram lander and Pragyan rover will remain permanently stationed on the Moon. They will not return to the Earth.

(Image credit: ISRO)