Nilanjan
Indian Space Research Organization is ready for the Phase II of its Chandrayaan-3 Mission as both Pragyan rover and Vikam lander will receive ‘shaking’ to come out of their slumber.
The last month went eventful on the Moon’s surface as well as at ISRO. The space organization in Bangalore is now getting ready for another ground-breaking chapter of their Chandrayaan-3 mission, which they call Phase-2. Readers can remember that Vikram Lander, carrying rover Pragyan, successfully touched down on the lunar surface close to the lunar South Pole on August 23. Now, the duo is set to wake up for Phase 2 of the mission after being left for rest and recharge.
This mission is now in a crucial stage. According to the ISRO scientists, it’s going to be a nerve-wrecking period for both Vikram and Pragyan. The awakening of Prgyan and Vikram is crucial to the next step. Therefore, India is clearly gearing up for another historic event that is soon going to be unfolded on the moon.
What are the scientists waiting for?
The occurrence of the event has been synchronized to the right temperature level on the Moon. After the temperature rises above -10 degrees Celsius, the condition will help activate the crucial communication circuit, called the “wake-up circuit”.
Minister Clarifies in Lok Sabha
Yesterday, there was discussion on the Chandrayaan-3 mission in the Lok Sabha. In a response to the discussion, Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed the Parliamentarians about the efforts taken by the ISRO scientists to wake up Vikram and Pragyan from their temporary sleep.
“When we sleep on earth tonight, Vikram and Pragyan will perhaps wake up on the Moon,” Singh stated.
The primary objective of the Chandrayaan-3 mission was to achieve the first-time feat of soft landing on the moon’s surface, which it did with ease. And it was a moment of pride for India.
While commenting on the prospects of the lander’s wake-up, Singh added that everyone who worked on the mission is now eagerly waiting for the temperature on the lunar surface to spike up.
“As the temperature rises above minus 10 degrees, a wake-up call will go and Vikram and Pragyan will rise from their sleep,” he explained.
“This will happen for the first time in the world. Tomorrow, when the country will celebrate the passage of the women’s reservation bill, perhaps, we will also have the opportunity to celebrate the occasion of the waking up of Vikram and Pragyan,” the minister added.
Phase II of Chandrayaan-3 is to happen in the next few hours. For the ISRO scientists, it is going to be another nail-biting moment. They are now awaiting the lander-rover duo to wake up by responding to the alarm. As soon as they wake up, it will initiate communication from the space centre.
“We will be the first in the world to have accomplished this,” Singh said with a pride.
