Lander Vikram Sends First Pics Of Moon After Detaching From Spacecraft
The LI Camera -1 also captured images of the Harkhebi J crater, which has a diameter of approximately 43 km
Lander Vikram is expected to touch down on the Moon next Wednesday
New Delhi: Today, after successfully performing a maneuver that brought it closer to its destination, Chandrayaan 3's lander Vikram provided the most recent photographs of the moon.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, India's space agency ISRO posted breathtaking photos taken by the Lander Imager (LI)Camera-1.The Giordano Bruno crater, one of the moon's newest major craters, is shown in the image montage along with other moon craters.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 18, 2023
View from the Lander Imager (LI) Camera-1
on August 17, 2023
just after the separation of the Lander Module from the Propulsion Module #Chandrayaan_3 #Ch3 pic.twitter.com/abPIyEn1Ad
The about 43km-diameter Harkhebi J crater was also photographed by the LI Camera-1.The images were captured yesterday following the lander's successful separation from the spacecraft's propulsion.
Isro tweeted, "Thanks for the ride, mate," suggesting a dialogue between the lander module and the spacecraft. After deboosting or slowing down, the module is scheduled to descend to a lower orbital that will bring it closer to the moon.
The procedure used today places the Lander Module in an orbit with Perilune, the Moon's nearest point, at 30 kilometers and Apolune, its farthest point, at 100 kilometers.
On August 23, the lander will make an attempt at a "soft landing" on the south pole of the moon, while the propulsion module will keep orbiting the moon and continue to research the atmosphere of Earth.Additionally, it will compile a list of exoplanets with signatures compatible with our habitability.
The 'Pragyaan' rover will roll down from the Vikram Lander after the lander touches down and the lunar dust settles. Then both the lander and the rover will take pictures of each other.
Following the moon landing, the rover will gather information on the make-up and geology of the lunar surface, opening the door for further investigation.
Comments