ISRO's latest update on Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander reveals that it has been placed in sleep mode as of 08:00 am IST. Before entering this dormant state, in-situ experiments were conducted by ChaSTE, RAMBHA-LP, and ILSA payloads at the new location, with data transmitted back to Earth.
The space agency also shared that while the lander's payloads have been deactivated, its receivers are still operational. Vikram Lander is expected to remain in this sleep mode until its solar power is depleted, with hopes of reactivation around September 22, 2023. They even provided a visual update, sharing images from before and after the hop.
This development follows the successful soft landing attempt by Vikram Lander for the second time. Meanwhile, Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover entered "sleep mode" on September 2, after completing its lunar assignments. The mission's timing was strategically aligned with a 14-day period of continuous lunar sunlight, which began on August 23. However, a significant challenge looms as the lunar surface is set to enter nightfall on September 6, plunging temperatures below -100 degrees Celsius and rendering the Lander and Rover's batteries uncharged.
Nevertheless, there's optimism for an extended mission if these batteries can recharge when the sun re-emerges on the moon's horizon. Chandrayaan-3 continues to captivate with its scientific journey and the potential for a longer stay on our celestial neighbor.
