Stunning Lunar Shots: Vikram Lander’s Triumph Revealed
Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan Rover’s Lightweight Navigation Cameras Withstand Harsh Lunar Conditions The much-anticipated images of India’s Vikram lander on the lunar surface have finally reached Earth, unveiling the Chandrayaan-3 lander that achieved a historic soft landing on August 23. The images captured by Pragyan, the rover, showcase the ramp that allowed the rover to roll out onto the lunar terrain.
Taken at 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM on Wednesday, these photographs also reveal the descent of two payloads, the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) and Chandra’s Surface Thermo Physical Experiment (ChaSTE), for in-situ experiments on the lunar surface.
The second set of images, released by ISRO, was captured from a distance of just 15 meters from the lander. These navigation cameras on Pragyan were developed by the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) in Bengaluru.
LEOS initially crafted these lightweight cameras back in 2012, as part of the preparations for Chandrayaan-2. Although the 2019 mission failed, these cameras remained a significant development. Selvaraj P, former Isro group head of LEOS and project manager of the rover, stated, “The lander photo released today looks very clear.”
Weighing a mere 125 grams each, these miniaturized digital cameras are equipped with multi-element lenses that underwent extensive ground tests to ensure image quality.
Selvaraj explained that these cameras are designed to withstand harsh lunar conditions, including radiation levels of up to 50 megarad in space. Unlike regular cameras that might falter under such conditions, these cameras have proven their resilience. The materials and processes used also enable them to endure extremely low temperatures, having been tested at -200°C in a vacuum.
Functioning as Pragyan’s eyes, these navigation cameras guide the rover across the lunar surface and capture images. The data collected by these cameras is downloaded to the ground, where a digital elevation model (DEM) is created for path planning. Based on this model, the ground and mechanisms teams determine the optimal route for Pragyan and send the corresponding commands to the rover.
These images reinforce the successful and smooth landing of August 23, highlighting Vikram’s stable position on the Moon’s surface. Last week, PM Modi likened the lander’s achievement to the character “Angad” from the epic Ramayana, emphasizing India’s scientific prowess and technological achievements.