India has deactivated its lunar rover, Pragyan, after successfully completing a two-week mission conducting experiments near the lunar south pole.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the rover has been set into “Sleep mode” with charged batteries and the receiver active, expressing hope for its future reawakening for additional tasks. The ISRO also mentioned that if not reactivated, Pragyan will remain India’s lunar ambassador.
Also Read: Chandrayaan-3 Rover Finds Elements on Moon’s Surface
India’s achievement of landing on the moon, particularly in the challenging terrain of the south pole, places it in an elite group alongside the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union. This accomplishment followed a previous failed attempt in 2019, making the successful touchdown of Chandrayaan-3 a significant milestone celebrated in the country.
During its mission, Pragyan traveled more than 100 meters (330 feet) on the lunar surface and confirmed the presence of elements such as sulfur, iron, and oxygen. India is now turning its attention to a recent probe launched to study the sun and observe solar winds that can affect Earth’s magnetic field and create phenomena like auroras.
The satellite is reported to be in good health and on its way for a 1.5 million-kilometer (930,000-mile) journey.
