Page 17 - NIS English 16-30 September, 2023

India on the Moon Cover Story

EARTHQUAKES ON THE MOON

n Chandrayaan-3's lander Vikram and rover Pragyan
collected information on chemical mixtures, soil
types, and temperature change patterns on the
moon before going into sleep mode. A payload of
the Vikram lander has collected information that
earthquakes occur on the moon; this earthquake was
recorded on August 26.
n The rover's Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope has
also detected the presence of oxygen, sulphur,
aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, and
silicon at the south pole of the moon.
n Temperature on surface of the moon is 50 degrees
celsius. There is a difference in temperature on the BEYOND THE MOON, NEAR THE SUN
surface of the moon and at different depths; a complete
NATION PROUD OF ADITYA L-1
graph has also been prepared by the payload.
VIKRAM PERFORMS BETTER THAN EXPECTED
n Indian scientists have earned the distinction
of being the first to land a spacecraft on
Vikram Lander outperformed Chandrayaan 3's the Moon's South Pole, while India's first solar
stated goals. After the Vikram Lander landed on mission, Aditya L-1, has successfully launched
the moon, the engine was restarted on September and demonstrated its strength and talent. The
4 after the command was given. It flew up to 40 Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sri Harikota
cm before landing safely on the lunar surface at a launched Aditya L-1 on September 2 at 11.50 a.m.
distance of 30-40 cm. The launch and landing of
n The Aditya L-1 spacecraft carried seven
Vikram in this manner excites future sample return
indigenously developed scientific payloads for
and manned missions.
the systematic study of the sun.
n All systems are working properly. Ramps, ChaSTE,
and ILSA have been turned back on before going n Aditya L-1's payloads will use electromagnetic
into sleep mode. Have been successfully deployed and particle detectors, as well as magnetic
again for study. field detectors, to study the photosphere,
chromosphere, and the sun's outermost layers
n Vikram Lander was set in sleep mode at 8 a.m. on
(corona).
September 4. The data that has been collected has
been received by ISRO on Earth. n Will study the heat and hot air emitted by the
n The payloads have been switched off, and the corona. It will also look into the causes of solar
lander's receiver is on. With the solar power gone storms and the effects of solar activity on
and the battery dead, Vikram went into sleep mode space weather.
next to Pragyan.
n Aditya L-1 has begun its journey to the Sun-
n Vikram is expected to reawaken at the next sunrise, Earth Lagrange Point 1, i.e., the halo orbit around
expected on September 22. the Sun, by travelling 1.5 million kilometres from
n Similarly, Pragyan Rover was also set in sleep mode the Earth aboard the PSLV-C57 rocket. It will
on September 3. Both payloads are closed. Their take approximately 125 days, or approximately
data has been sent to Earth. 4 months, to get there .
n Pragyan's battery is fully charged. The receiver n The main advantage of putting the satellite in a
is on. ISRO has expressed hope that it will be halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point
reawakened; otherwise, it will always remain there L-1 is that it can continuously observe the sun
as India's lunar messenger. without being eclipsed.

New India Samachar September 16-30, 2023 15