Chandrayaan 3 is designed to operate for 14 days on the moon, which is equivalent to one lunar day. After 14 days, the lander and rover will become inactive due to the lack of sunlight. The moon’s night side is very cold, with temperatures reaching -180 degrees Celsius. The lander and rover are not designed to withstand these extreme temperatures, so they will likely shut down and become dormant.
It is possible that the lander and rover could be reactivated when the sun rises again on the moon. However, this is not guaranteed, as the batteries and other components may have been damaged by the cold. ISRO scientists are still studying the possibility of reactivating the lander and rover, but it is more likely that they will remain inactive on the moon’s surface.
The 14-day lifespan of Chandrayaan 3 is a limitation of its solar-powered design. Future moon missions that need to operate for longer periods of time will need to use nuclear power or other energy sources that are not dependent on sunlight.
India’s Chandrayaan 3 Mission: What Happens Next?
- After 14 days, the lunar night will begin on the moon. This is when the side of the moon that is facing away from the sun is in darkness. The lunar night on the moon lasts for 14 days, just as the lunar day does.
- During the lunar night, the temperature on the moon can drop to as low as -208 degrees Fahrenheit (-133 degrees Celsius). This is too cold for the solar-powered Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to operate.
- As a result, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover will become inactive during the lunar night. They will shut down their systems and conserve energy.
- When the lunar day begins again, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover will be able to resume their operations. They will warm up and start their systems back up.
- However, it is possible that the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover may not be able to survive the lunar night. The extreme cold and the lack of sunlight could damage their systems.
- If the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover do survive the lunar night, they could continue to operate for some time. However, their lifespan will be limited by their power supply and the wear and tear on their systems.
- It is also possible that the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover could be damaged by a micrometeoroid or other space debris during the lunar night. This could also shorten their lifespan.
- Ultimately, the fate of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover is uncertain. However, they have already accomplished a great deal by successfully landing on the moon and operating for 14 days.
In addition to the above, here are some other factors that could affect the fate of Chandrayaan 3 after 14 days:
The Challenges of Operating on the Moon:
- The quality of the design and construction of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover.
- The amount of radiation exposure they receive during the lunar night.
- The amount of dust that accumulates on their solar panels.
- The occurrence of any unforeseen events, such as a hardware failure or a software glitch.
Only time will tell what will happen to Chandrayaan 3 after 14 days. However, the successful landing of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover is a major milestone for India’s space program. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the scientists and engineers who made this mission possible.