India’s Moon Lander Vikram Successfully Lifts Off and Lands Again
India’s moon lander, Vikram, has once again stunned space experts around the world with its remarkable ability. In an unprecedented maneuver, Vikram was able to lift off from the lunar surface and successfully land for a second time. This test, which took place about two weeks after its historic landing, saw Vikram rise 15 inches above the ground and touch down again, this time 11 to 16 inches closer to the rover. Only one other spacecraft has ever performed such a maneuver.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced that this successful hop could pave the way for a future sample return mission, which would require launching from the moon’s surface. ISRO, India’s version of NASA, posted a video of the test on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
The impressive demonstration occurred just before the lander powered down for a planned hibernation. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission was designed to last for two weeks, equivalent to one lunar day. It remains uncertain whether the lander and its rover, Pragyan, will awaken. According to ISRO, their solar panels are positioned to receive light at the next sunrise, expected on September 22.
ISRO expressed hope for a successful awakening for another set of assignments, but acknowledged that if they do not awaken, the lander will forever remain as India’s lunar ambassador.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has achieved a major milestone, becoming the first robotic spacecraft to successfully land at the moon’s dark and craggy polar region. This puts India in the elite club alongside the former Soviet Union, the United States, and China, who have all touched the surface of the moon. It is worth noting that this achievement comes four years after India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission crashed while attempting a similar landing.
Following its landing on August 23, Chandrayaan-3, meaning “moon craft” in Hindi, conducted various scientific investigations. These included measuring the moon’s temperature, analyzing its chemical composition, recording seismic activity, and studying plasma content near the landing site. The smaller rover, Pragyan, covered a distance comparable to an American football field.
The historic hop made by Vikram marks a significant milestone, as previously, the only other robotic spacecraft to perform this maneuver was NASA’s Surveyor 6, which lifted about six feet from the ground and landed eight feet away in 1967.
The polar region of the moon has become a focal point for many nations and private ventures due to the presence of buried ice in its permanently shadowed craters. This natural resource holds tremendous potential for future space missions, as it could provide drinking water, air, and rocket fuel. The ability to extract these resources from the moon would significantly reduce the need to transport them from Earth, opening up new possibilities for deep space exploration.
India’s accomplishment comes shortly after the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, experienced a setback when its Luna-25 robotic spacecraft crashed. Both the Indian and Russian missions were part of a mini-space race to land crewless spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, although the Russian effort was unsuccessful.
As for the outcome of Pragyan’s mission, it remains unclear whether the rover discovered frozen water, which would be a breakthrough finding. While signs of sulfur and various other elements were detected in the soil, the presence of hydrogen, a key ingredient for water molecules, had not yet been confirmed.
India’s achievements in space exploration continue to shine a spotlight on the country’s growing prowess and scientific advancements. With the success of Vikram’s second landing, the possibilities for future lunar missions and scientific discoveries are becoming even more exciting.