Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander surprises with unplanned lunar hop

Bengaluru: The Chandrayaan-3 mission witnessed the Vikram lander undertaking an unplanned hop experiment on the Moon, surpassing its designated mission objectives, said the Project Director P Veeramuthuvel.

The Vikram lander, which achieved a historic lunar landing on August 23, demonstrated its capability to lift off from the lunar surface.

During the 14-day research and experimentation phase, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover provided a wealth of data, studying various aspects of the lunar environment. However, the highlight came with the unexpected hop experiment, where the lander's engines were fired on command, elevating itself by approximately 40 centimetres and safely landing 30 to 40 centimetres away from its original spot at Shiv Shakti Point.

Veeramuthuvel expressed enthusiasm about the success of this unplanned manoeuvre, emphasizing its potential implications for future lunar exploration. The Chandrayaan-3 mission, having already made history with its successful landing near the Moon's south polar region, now paves the way for the development of future missions capable of returning lunar samples to India.

Despite the onset of the lunar night, marking the end of attempts to revive the lander and rover, both Vikram and Pragyan are hailed as successful in accomplishing their objectives. Multiple efforts by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to establish communication with the lunar ambassadors yielded no response.

The lunar night, lasting approximately 14 Earth days, began on September 30, bringing an end to the attempts to revive the mission. Despite this, the Chandrayaan-3 mission remains a groundbreaking achievement, solidifying India's position as the first country to successfully land near the Moon's south polar region.