After a month of successful operations on the lunar surface,
the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for an exciting
second phase in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The Vikram Lander and its companion
rover, Pragyan, which touched down on the Moon on August 23, are now poised to
enter Phase 2 after a brief period of rest and recharge.
The mission has now entered a tense waiting period as ISRO
scientists eagerly anticipate a pivotal event: the awakening of Vikram and
Pragyan. This significant moment is expected to occur as the lunar temperature
rises above minus 10 degrees Celsius, activating the critical communication
circuit known as the ‘wake-up circuit.’
Speaking about the Moon mission in the Lok Sabha, Indian
Union Minister Jitendra Singh assured that all efforts are being made to awaken
Vikram and Pragyan from their slumber. He remarked, ‘When we go to sleep on
Earth tonight, Vikram and Pragyan may well wake up on the Moon.’
Vikram Lander achieved a successful soft landing near the
Moon’s south pole on August 23, fulfilling one of the primary objectives of the
Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Regarding the prospects of Vikram Lander’s awakening, Singh
explained that everyone involved in the mission is eagerly awaiting the Moon’s
temperature to rise. He said, ‘As the temperature on the Moon climbs above
minus 10 degrees, a wake-up signal will be sent, and Vikram and Pragyan will
stir from their slumber.’
Singh added, ‘This will mark a historic moment as it has
never been done before. Perhaps, as the nation celebrates the passage of the
women’s reservation bill, we may also have the opportunity to celebrate the
awakening of Vikram and Pragyan.’
‘The second phase of Chandrayaan-3 is poised to begin in the
coming hours. The moment of anticipation is here as we await the activation of
the wake-up call and the response from Vikram and Pragyan. Once they awaken,
communication with Earth will commence, making us the first in the world to
achieve this remarkable feat,’ Singh concluded.
