ISRO Deletes Post Sharing Chandrayaan-3 Lander Images Taken by Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter Shortly After Posting
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently shared pictures of the Chandrayaan-3 lander taken by Chandrayaan-2’s Orbiter on social media. However, the post was later removed by ISRO. The deleted post contained the message, “I spy on you. Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter photoshoots Chandrayaan 3 lander. Chandrayaan-2’s Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC) – the camera with the best resolution currently available around the moon.”
After a 40-day journey in space, the Chandrayaan-3 lander named ‘Vikram’ successfully touched down on the unexplored lunar South Pole on August 23. This achievement marked a significant milestone for India, as it became the fourth country in the world, after the US, China, and Russia, to achieve a successful lunar landing.
ISRO announced on August 24 that the Pragyan Rover, carried by the Chandrayaan-3 mission, had begun its exploration on the moon’s surface. In a statement on social media, ISRO shared, “Chandrayaan-3 Rover to MOX, ISTRAC, Moonwalk begins! Pragyan rover will carry out interesting exploration for the next two weeks. The rover is set to conduct experiments to study the geology, mineralogy, and atmosphere of the Moon.”
The Pragyan rover, equipped with an Alpha Particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS), will analyze the chemical and mineralogical composition of the lunar surface. This mission aims to gain a deeper understanding of elements present on the moon, such as magnesium, silicon, potassium, calcium, and iron. Additionally, the rover will contribute to our comprehension of the Moon’s atmosphere and its day-night cycles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after concluding his visit to Greece, is scheduled to visit Bengaluru to meet the scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 Mission at ISRO. This visit underscores the significance of India’s space achievements and the dedication of the scientific community in advancing space exploration.
