Indian moon rover unlikely to restart after entering 'sleep mode'
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Hopes are fading for the revival of India's moon lander and rover, Vikram and Pragyan, as communication remains lost.
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This image provided by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shows Vikram lander as seen by the navigation camera on Pragyan Rover on August 30, 2023 (AP)
Hopes are dwindling for the revival of India's moon lander, Vikram, and the Pragyan rover, as Indian scientists have been unable to re-establish communication with the spacecraft since it entered shutdown mode to endure the frigid lunar night conditions, The Guardian reported.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved a historic landing on the moon's south pole in August, capping a 40-day interstellar journey, and the rover spent over a week gathering lunar surface data.
On September 2, both Vikram and Pragyan were placed in "sleep mode" to protect their electrical components during the harsh lunar night, where temperatures plummet to -250 degrees Celsius.
Read more: A week after Moon landing, India launches probe to Sun
Initial optimism from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suggested that the spacecraft would reawaken around September 22 when sunlight would recharge their batteries. However, ISRO scientists have been unable to make contact with the machines, and the outlook for their revival is dimming.
ISRO announced that communication efforts would continue until September 30, coinciding with the next lunar sunset. Prior to the shutdown, ISRO emphasized the Chandrayaan-3 mission's success in reaching the lunar south pole, making India the fourth country to land on the moon and affirming its position as a space exploration leader. The mission garnered national pride and worldwide attention, with Prime Minister Modi hailing it as "a victory cry of a new India."
During its lunar exploration, the Pragyan rover covered 100 meters, transmitting images and crucial data back to Earth, confirming the presence of sulfur, iron, oxygen, and other elements on the moon's surface.
Read more: Space race; Cosmic dash to the dark side of the moon
