New Delhi: The Vikram lander has shared its inaugural moon images today, having successfully separated from the spacecraft’s propulsion module. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled the captivating visuals captured by the Lander Imager (LI) Camera-1 on X, formerly known as Twitter. Among the images displayed is a montage showcasing various moon craters, including the Giordano Bruno crater, one of the moon’s newest and larger craters.
The LI Camera-1 also managed to capture the Harkhebi J crater, boasting a diameter of roughly 43 km. These snapshots were taken post the lander’s disconnection from the module.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
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— ISRO (@isro) August 18, 2023
Upon detaching from the propulsion system, the lander module expressed, “Thanks for the ride, mate.” The module will transition to a lower orbital position through a successful deboosting maneuver carried out today. The Lander Module’s health remains stable, with the maneuver reducing its orbit to 113 km x 157 km. The second deboosting operation is slated for August 20 around 2 am.
Deboosting, involving deceleration, will align the Lander Module in an orbit where Perilune (the closest moon point) is at a distance of 30 kilometers, and Apolune (the farthest point) is 100 km away.
Come August 23, the lander will undertake a “soft landing” on the moon’s south polar region, while the propulsion module will persist in its lunar orbit, studying Earth’s atmosphere and collecting exoplanet data that could point to habitability.
Once the lander is settled on the surface and lunar dust has subsided, the ‘Pragyaan’ rover will disembark from the Vikram Lander. This will initiate an exchange of images between the lander and the rover.
Following the moon landing, the rover’s mission will involve gathering data on lunar surface composition and geology, setting the stage for comprehensive research endeavors.
