<p>Almost three hours post-landing, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)&nbsp;"switched off" the Moon lander and revealed that "a lot of data has been obtained" during the descent and lunar surface exploration.</p>

<p>"We were able to complete the transmission of technical and image data acquired during the descent and on the lunar surface before the power was switched off... a lot of data has been obtained," the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency&nbsp;(JAXA)&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>This comes after a historic achievement when Japan's 'Moon Sniper' craft, also known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), successfully executed a "soft landing" on the lunar surface on Friday (Jan 19).</p>

<p>This accomplishment solidified Japan as the fifth nation globally to achieve a lunar landing, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, China, and India.</p>

<p>Additionally, the country's space agency said that there still exists a chance of restoring the lander.</p>

<p>"According to the telemetry data, SLIM's solar cells are facing west. So if sunlight hits the Moon from the west in the future, we believe there's a possibility of power generation, and we're currently preparing for restoration," said the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/surgical-robot-3d-metal-printing-in-space-these-are-nasas-upcoming-science-launches-682218">NASA gears up to send surgical robot, 3D metal printing to space station</a></p>

<p>Notably, India recently celebrated its historic soft landing near the Moon's south pole.</p>

<p>Japan's SLIM faced challenges as its solar cells were not generating sufficient power, but the mission marked a&nbsp;success after two previous lunar mission failures.</p>

<p>The 'Moon Sniper' aimed for a "pinpoint" landing, a challenging task due to the Moon's stronger gravity compared to previous asteroid landings.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-loses-but-regains-contact-with-ingenuity-helicopter-on-mars-682066">NASA regains contact with Ingenuity helicopter on Mars after unexpected outage</a></p>

<p>The landing site, a lunar crater believed to provide access to the lunar mantle beneath the crust, showcased Japan's technological prowess.</p>

<p>JAXA's Hitoshi Kuninaka at the time said, "Communication has been established since landing, but the solar cells are not generating power, and data acquisition from the lunar surface is given priority."</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;NASA unveils X-59 plane to test supersonic flight over US cities</strong></p>

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<p>The SLIM operated on onboard batteries, storing landing data for later transmission to Earth.</p>

<p>Russia's lunar landing craft failed just before India's success, and US private firm Astrobotic faced challenges as its Peregrine spacecraft, launched on January 8, encountered an explosion and fuel leak, ultimately unable to land on the Moon.&nbsp;Astrobotic, in collaboration with NASA, adjusted the spacecraft's trajectory. This resulted in a controlled entry into Earth's atmosphere and burning off on January 19.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Almost three hours post-landing, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) "switched off" the Moon lander and revealed that "a lot of data has been obtained" during the descent and lunar surface exploration.

Almost three hours post-landing, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) "switched off" the Moon lander and revealed that "a lot of data has been obtained" during the descent and lunar surface exploration. "We were able to complete the transmission of technical and image data acquired during the descent and on the lunar surface before the power was switched off... a lot of data has been obtained," the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said. This comes after a historic achievement when Japan's 'Moon Sniper' craft, also known as the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), successfully executed a "soft landing" on the lunar surface on Friday (Jan 19). This accomplishment solidified Japan as the fifth nation globally to achieve a lunar landing, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, China, and India. Additionally, the country's space agency said that there still exists a chance of restoring the lander. "According to the telemetry data, SLIM's solar cells are facing west. So if sunlight hits the Moon from the west in the future, we believe there's a possibility of power generation, and we're currently preparing for restoration," said the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Also Read | NASA gears up to send surgical robot, 3D metal printing to space station Notably, India recently celebrated its historic soft landing near the Moon's south pole. Japan's SLIM faced challenges as its solar cells were not generating sufficient power, but the mission marked a success after two previous lunar mission failures. The 'Moon Sniper' aimed for a "pinpoint" landing, a challenging task due to the Moon's stronger gravity compared to previous asteroid landings. Also Read | NASA regains contact with Ingenuity helicopter on Mars after unexpected outage The landing site, a lunar crater believed to provide access to the lunar mantle beneath the crust, showcased Japan's technological prowess. JAXA's Hitoshi Kuninaka at the time said, "Communication has been established since landing, but the solar cells are not generating power, and data acquisition from the lunar surface is given priority." Watch | NASA unveils X-59 plane to test supersonic flight over US cities × The SLIM operated on onboard batteries, storing landing data for later transmission to Earth. Russia's lunar landing craft failed just before India's success, and US private firm Astrobotic faced challenges as its Peregrine spacecraft, launched on January 8, encountered an explosion and fuel leak, ultimately unable to land on the Moon. Astrobotic, in collaboration with NASA, adjusted the spacecraft's trajectory. This resulted in a controlled entry into Earth's atmosphere and burning off on January 19. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan's Moon sniper switched off, space agency says data transmission completed

Japan made history on Friday by becoming only the the fifth nation to land a spacecraft on the Moon. The Vice President of the Japanese space agency, Jaxa says, "Very happy at the successful landing at Jaxa Slim".

Japan's historic lunar landing: Jaxa's Vice President Ishii Yasua on WION

<p>Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM), aptly nicknamed the "Moon Sniper" for its precision,&nbsp;successfully entered lunar orbit on Christmas (December 25), marking a significant step toward a historic touchdown on the lunar surface.</p>

<p>The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on Monday (Dec 25) that SLIM has "successfully entered the moon's orbit at 04:51 pm Japan time" (0751 GMT), affirming that the probe's trajectory shift proceeded as planned, and the craft's conditions remained nominal.</p>

<p>JAXA disclosed that SLIM's descent towards the moon is scheduled to commence around 12:00 am Japan time on January 20, with the anticipated surface landing just 20 minutes later.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astrosat-detects-millisecond-bursts-from-new-magnetar-to-unveil-concealed-secrets-within-673435">AstroSat detects millisecond bursts from new magnetar, to unveil secrets concealed within</a></p>

<p>According to JAXA, SLIM's mission is poised to achieve an "unprecedentedly high precision landing" on the moon, showcasing a margin of error of under 100 metres—a level of accuracy previously deemed unattainable.</p>

<p>Shinichiro Sakai, JAXA's SLIM project manager, highlighted the evolving demands of technology, stating, "Gone are the days when merely exploring 'somewhere on the moon' was desired."</p>

<p>He emphasised on the increased need for pinpoint accuracy in targeting lunar features such as craters and rocks on the lunar surface.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indias-aditya-l1-sun-mission-to-conduct-critical-insertion-into-halo-orbit-673386">India's Aditya-L1 sun mission to conduct critical insertion into halo orbit</a></p>

<p>This tiny probe, slightly larger than a tennis ball, can dynamically change its shape, allowing unparalleled movement on the lunar surface.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/drc-marks-christmas-amid-unrest-following-elections-673416">DRC marks Christmas amid unrest following elections</a></strong></p>

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<p>The precision exhibited by SLIM is raising hopes for easier sampling of lunar permafrost, bringing scientists closer to unravelling the mysteries surrounding water resources on the moon. Notably, Japan aims to join the ranks of the United States, Russia, China, and India as the fifth country to successfully land a probe on the moon.</p>

<p>While Japan has faced setbacks in lunar exploration, including the unsuccessful Omotenashi probe in the Artemis 1 mission, SLIM's mission is a renewed optimism for the country in its pursuit of lunar exploration excellence.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM), aptly nicknamed the "Moon Sniper" for its precision, successfully entered lunar orbit on Christmas (December 25), marking a significant step toward a historic touchdown on the lunar surface.

Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM), aptly nicknamed the "Moon Sniper" for its precision, successfully entered lunar orbit on Christmas (December 25), marking a significant step toward a historic touchdown on the lunar surface. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced on Monday (Dec 25) that SLIM has "successfully entered the moon's orbit at 04:51 pm Japan time" (0751 GMT), affirming that the probe's trajectory shift proceeded as planned, and the craft's conditions remained nominal. JAXA disclosed that SLIM's descent towards the moon is scheduled to commence around 12:00 am Japan time on January 20, with the anticipated surface landing just 20 minutes later. Also Read | AstroSat detects millisecond bursts from new magnetar, to unveil secrets concealed within According to JAXA, SLIM's mission is poised to achieve an "unprecedentedly high precision landing" on the moon, showcasing a margin of error of under 100 metres—a level of accuracy previously deemed unattainable. Shinichiro Sakai, JAXA's SLIM project manager, highlighted the evolving demands of technology, stating, "Gone are the days when merely exploring 'somewhere on the moon' was desired." He emphasised on the increased need for pinpoint accuracy in targeting lunar features such as craters and rocks on the lunar surface. Also Read | India's Aditya-L1 sun mission to conduct critical insertion into halo orbit This tiny probe, slightly larger than a tennis ball, can dynamically change its shape, allowing unparalleled movement on the lunar surface. Watch | DRC marks Christmas amid unrest following elections × The precision exhibited by SLIM is raising hopes for easier sampling of lunar permafrost, bringing scientists closer to unravelling the mysteries surrounding water resources on the moon. Notably, Japan aims to join the ranks of the United States, Russia, China, and India as the fifth country to successfully land a probe on the moon. While Japan has faced setbacks in lunar exploration, including the unsuccessful Omotenashi probe in the Artemis 1 mission, SLIM's mission is a renewed optimism for the country in its pursuit of lunar exploration excellence. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan's 'Moon Sniper' enters lunar orbit on Christmas, sets stage for landing on Jan 20 next year

<p>India is in an advantageous position when it comes to studying the Moon, the only satellite our planet has. This is because India has 'boots on ground' in the form of Chandrayaan-3 lander&nbsp;and rover on the surface of the Moon and also has Chandrayaan-2 orbiter revolving around the Moon, taking pictures. The combined forces of Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 are sure to help India in its scientific quest.</p>

<p>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now released a picture of Chandrayaan-3 lander clicked by Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. The lander made a successful soft landing on the Moon's South Pole.</p>

<p>“Chandrayaan-3 lander is imaged by the Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 6, 2023,” ISRO said.</p>

<p>Although ISRO didn't succeed in landing a probe on Moon's surface during its Chandrayaan-2 mission few years ago, the orbiter from the mission has been successfully revolving around the Moon ever since.</p>

<p>The orbiter had helped Chandrayaan-3 land successfully on Moon by establishing a two-way connection with the lander module days ahead of its landing.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chandrayaan-3 Mission:<br />
Here is an image of the Chandrayaan-3 Lander taken by the Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 6, 2023.<br />
<br />
More about the instrument: <a href="https://t.co/TrQU5V6NOq">https://t.co/TrQU5V6NOq</a> <a href="https://t.co/ofMjCYQeso">pic.twitter.com/ofMjCYQeso</a></p>
— ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1700436507159359834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Also, a NASA satellite -- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) – recently captured an image of the Chandrayaan-3 landing site.</p>

<p>India became the first country to land successfully on the Moon's South Pole. The historic development came four years after Chandrayaan-2 crashed on the surface of the Moon.</p>

<p>With Chandrayaan-3, India became the fourth country after the US, China and Russia to successfully land on Moon.</p>

<p>After the successful landing. Vikram lander and Prgyan rover performed several sets of tasks on the Moon's surface. These included search for sulphur and other elements, recording relative temperature and more.</p>

<p>The stated objectives of Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission was safe and soft landing, rover roving on the Moon's surface, and in-situ scientific experiments.</p>

<p>Currently, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover are in "sleep mode". They will be re-activated around September 22&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the latest update, the Indian Space Research organisation put out a 3-dimensional 'anaglyph' image of the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander from the south pole of the Moon.</p>

<p>Anaglyph refers to a simple visualisation of the object or terrain in three dimensions from stereo or multi-view images.</p>

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India is in an advantageous position when it comes to studying the Moon, the only satellite our planet has. This is because India has 'boots on ground' in the form of Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover on the surface of the Moon and also has Chandrayaan-2 orbiter revolving around the Moon, taking pictures.

India is in an advantageous position when it comes to studying the Moon, the only satellite our planet has. This is because India has 'boots on ground' in the form of Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover on the surface of the Moon and also has Chandrayaan-2 orbiter revolving around the Moon, taking pictures. The combined forces of Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 are sure to help India in its scientific quest. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has now released a picture of Chandrayaan-3 lander clicked by Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. The lander made a successful soft landing on the Moon's South Pole. “Chandrayaan-3 lander is imaged by the Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 6, 2023,” ISRO said. Although ISRO didn't succeed in landing a probe on Moon's surface during its Chandrayaan-2 mission few years ago, the orbiter from the mission has been successfully revolving around the Moon ever since. The orbiter had helped Chandrayaan-3 land successfully on Moon by establishing a two-way connection with the lander module days ahead of its landing. Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Here is an image of the Chandrayaan-3 Lander taken by the Dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 6, 2023. More about the instrument: https://t.co/TrQU5V6NOq pic.twitter.com/ofMjCYQeso — ISRO (@isro) September 9, 2023 × Also, a NASA satellite -- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) – recently captured an image of the Chandrayaan-3 landing site. India became the first country to land successfully on the Moon's South Pole. The historic development came four years after Chandrayaan-2 crashed on the surface of the Moon. With Chandrayaan-3, India became the fourth country after the US, China and Russia to successfully land on Moon. After the successful landing. Vikram lander and Prgyan rover performed several sets of tasks on the Moon's surface. These included search for sulphur and other elements, recording relative temperature and more. The stated objectives of Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar mission was safe and soft landing, rover roving on the Moon's surface, and in-situ scientific experiments. Currently, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover are in "sleep mode". They will be re-activated around September 22 In the latest update, the Indian Space Research organisation put out a 3-dimensional 'anaglyph' image of the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander from the south pole of the Moon. Anaglyph refers to a simple visualisation of the object or terrain in three dimensions from stereo or multi-view images. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

ISRO posts image of Chandrayaan-3 lander clicked by Chandrayaan-2 orbiter

<p>After a 37-day journey, the Chandrayaan-3 lander craft 'Vikram' is now barely 25 kilometres above the Lunar surface. This is the lowest orbit it will remain in before it commences its powered descent (manoeuvres that will lead to the Lunar soft landing). "The powered descent is expected to commence on August 23rd, 2023, around 5:45 pm IST," ISRO said. This indicates that the Lunar soft-landing could be completed by 6:15 pm on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lander craft performed its second and final de-boost manoeuvre at 2 am IST, Sunday,&nbsp;August 20. This brought the lander craft from an orbit of 113kmsx157kms to an orbit of 25kmsx134kms. This means the craft is barely 25 km above the lunar surface, at its closest approach and 134 km above the lunar surface at its farthest approach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/who-chief-hails-modis-home-state-gujarat-as-futures-mecca-of-traditional-medicine-627109">WHO chief hails Modi's home state Gujarat as future's 'Mecca of traditional medicine'</a></p>

<p>Chandrayaan-3 has a specific landing date of August 23, as the day marks the commencement of the Lunar daytime. Landing during the Lunar Day would help the Indian craft charge its batteries by harnessing solar power.</p>

<p>Given that Chandrayaan-3 (lander-rover) has a mission life of only one Lunar day (14.75 Earth days), it is imperative for the craft to begin its operations immediately once the lunar day&nbsp;breaks. This would give it the maximum possible operational time to carry out in-situ experiments, as planned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, as it performed a similar manoeuvre to move into a pre-landing orbit, Russia's Luna-25 craft ran&nbsp;into trouble and crashed into the moon and the mission has reportedly failed. Chandrayaan's Vikram is meant to land near 70 degree latitude of the moon, which is near the unexplored southern polar region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ladakh-nine-indian-soldiers-dead-many-injured-after-army-vehicle-plunges-into-gorge-627075">Ladakh: Nine Indian soldiers dead after Army vehicle plunges into gorge</a></p>

<p>"Today, in accordance with the Luna-25 flight programme, at 14:10, an impulse was issued to transfer the station (craft) to the pre-landing orbit. During the operation, an emergency situation occurred on board the automatic station(robotic craft) which did not allow the maneuver to be performed with the specified parameters The management team is currently analyzing the situation" read the translated version of the Roscosmos statement released after the glitch was reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | India’s Chandrayaan-3 in faceoff with Russia’s Luna-25 for unchartered lunar south pole</strong></p>

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<p>While India has undertaken Lunar missions in 2008, 2019 and now Chandrayaan-3, the erstwhile Soviet Union had performed its last Lunar lander mission in 1976. Luna-25 got delayed by more than a decade and was the maiden Lunar mission of Russia.&nbsp;</p>

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After a 37-day journey, the Chandrayaan-3 lander craft 'Vikram' is now barely 25 kilometres above the Lunar surface. This is the lowest orbit it will remain in before it commences its powered descent (manoeuvres that will lead to the Lunar soft landing).

After a 37-day journey, the Chandrayaan-3 lander craft 'Vikram' is now barely 25 kilometres above the Lunar surface. This is the lowest orbit it will remain in before it commences its powered descent (manoeuvres that will lead to the Lunar soft landing). "The powered descent is expected to commence on August 23rd, 2023, around 5:45 pm IST," ISRO said. This indicates that the Lunar soft-landing could be completed by 6:15 pm on Wednesday. The lander craft performed its second and final de-boost manoeuvre at 2 am IST, Sunday, August 20. This brought the lander craft from an orbit of 113kmsx157kms to an orbit of 25kmsx134kms. This means the craft is barely 25 km above the lunar surface, at its closest approach and 134 km above the lunar surface at its farthest approach. Also Read | WHO chief hails Modi's home state Gujarat as future's 'Mecca of traditional medicine' Chandrayaan-3 has a specific landing date of August 23, as the day marks the commencement of the Lunar daytime. Landing during the Lunar Day would help the Indian craft charge its batteries by harnessing solar power. Given that Chandrayaan-3 (lander-rover) has a mission life of only one Lunar day (14.75 Earth days), it is imperative for the craft to begin its operations immediately once the lunar day breaks. This would give it the maximum possible operational time to carry out in-situ experiments, as planned. Meanwhile, as it performed a similar manoeuvre to move into a pre-landing orbit, Russia's Luna-25 craft ran into trouble and crashed into the moon and the mission has reportedly failed. Chandrayaan's Vikram is meant to land near 70 degree latitude of the moon, which is near the unexplored southern polar region. Also Read | Ladakh: Nine Indian soldiers dead after Army vehicle plunges into gorge "Today, in accordance with the Luna-25 flight programme, at 14:10, an impulse was issued to transfer the station (craft) to the pre-landing orbit. During the operation, an emergency situation occurred on board the automatic station(robotic craft) which did not allow the maneuver to be performed with the specified parameters The management team is currently analyzing the situation" read the translated version of the Roscosmos statement released after the glitch was reported. Watch | India’s Chandrayaan-3 in faceoff with Russia’s Luna-25 for unchartered lunar south pole × While India has undertaken Lunar missions in 2008, 2019 and now Chandrayaan-3, the erstwhile Soviet Union had performed its last Lunar lander mission in 1976. Luna-25 got delayed by more than a decade and was the maiden Lunar mission of Russia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Chandrayaan-3: Vikram lander 25km above moon, to land at break of Lunar Day on Aug 23

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<p>As the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 entered its third and final phase, the Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander has now taken over the reins of the high-profile mission. Around 1 pm IST, on Thursday (August 17), the Indian space agency ISRO announced that the Chandrayaan-3 integrated spacecraft had separated into two parts - the propulsion module and the lander module.</p>

<p>While the propulsion module continues to orbit the moon for a few years, the lander module is headed towards the Lunar surface, in preparation for its lunar soft-landing scheduled for August 23.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST," ISRO tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The most-anticipated Divorce case in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a><br />
<br />
Propulsion module vs Vikram lander...After a harmonious 34day journey in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a>, propulsion module which got both of them till the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#moon</a>, will separate from the lander<br />
<br />
Perhaps, around noon today🤞<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chandrayaan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chandrayaan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tech?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tech</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/science?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#science</a> <a href="https://t.co/VwjRUQRx2a">pic.twitter.com/VwjRUQRx2a</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1692038761281179939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>With the Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module included, India now has three of its crafts circling the moon. This includes Chandrayaan-1 (defunct), Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and the Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module. India commenced its lunar exploration journey in 2008 with Chandrayaan-1 and then followed it up with Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, and Chandrayaan-3 in July this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-just-a-week-away-from-lunar-soft-landing-625932"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3 just a week away from lunar soft landing</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Four vehicles in Chandrayaan-3 mission&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Any spacefaring mission is like a relay race — there are many performers and each one completes their task and hands over to the next. On July 14, the LVM3 rocket was the vehicle that carried the 3.9-tonne spacecraft (comprising the propulsion module, lander and rover) into the earth's orbit. Performing its task in about 16 minutes, India's largest rocket injected the satellites into the desired orbit.</p>

<p>Then on, the craft's propulsion module gradually pushed and steered the craft away from the Earth, using its onboard engines. Until July 31, the craft orbited the earth and then fired its engines to gain more velocity, pushing itself to rendezvous with the moon in a few days (lunar transfer trajectory). On August 5, the craft reached the vicinity of the moon and fired its engines to slow itself down, reduce its orbit and get captured by lunar gravity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From August 5 till August 17, the craft has been circling the moon. Once in a few days, the craft retro-fired its engines to slow down and reduce its orbit and get closer to the lunar surface. On Thursday, as the craft was in a 153 km x 163 km orbit, the propulsion module and lander module separated. This means that the propulsion module has completed its core task of getting the craft into an orbit around the moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/chandrayaan-3-to-land-on-the-moon-on-august-23-626135"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3 to land on the moon on August 23</strong></a></p>

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<p>Henceforth, it will be the responsibility of the Vikram lander to test its cameras, sensors and engines, as it prepares for a lunar soft landing. The lander craft will commence reducing its orbit on Friday (August 18) and eventually cut down its velocity from a few kilometres/second to one metre/second, which is the ideal speed for lunar soft-landing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the successful soft landing, the lander is meant to open its ramp and allow the 'Pragyan' rover to roll out onto the lunar surface. In close coordination with each other, the lander, rover and propulsion module would then carry out their respective scientific tasks and send their data back to Earth.</p>

<p>As far as the lander and rover are concerned, ISRO is looking at an operational life of one lunar day or two weeks on Earth. However, after the lunar night passes and the new dawn breaks, when the sunlight is available, it is possible that the lander and rover come back to life.&nbsp;</p>

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As the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 entered its third and final phase, the Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander has now taken over the reins of the high-profile mission.

As the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 entered its third and final phase, the Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander has now taken over the reins of the high-profile mission. Around 1 pm IST, on Thursday (August 17), the Indian space agency ISRO announced that the Chandrayaan-3 integrated spacecraft had separated into two parts - the propulsion module and the lander module. While the propulsion module continues to orbit the moon for a few years, the lander module is headed towards the Lunar surface, in preparation for its lunar soft-landing scheduled for August 23. "LM is successfully separated from the Propulsion Module (PM). LM is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit upon a deboosting planned for tomorrow around 1600 Hrs., IST," ISRO tweeted. The most-anticipated Divorce case in #india Propulsion module vs Vikram lander...After a harmonious 34day journey in #space, propulsion module which got both of them till the #moon, will separate from the lander Perhaps, around noon today🤞#isro #Chandrayaan #tech #science pic.twitter.com/VwjRUQRx2a — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) August 17, 2023 × With the Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module included, India now has three of its crafts circling the moon. This includes Chandrayaan-1 (defunct), Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and the Chandrayaan-3 propulsion module. India commenced its lunar exploration journey in 2008 with Chandrayaan-1 and then followed it up with Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, and Chandrayaan-3 in July this year. Also read | Chandrayaan-3 just a week away from lunar soft landing Four vehicles in Chandrayaan-3 mission Any spacefaring mission is like a relay race — there are many performers and each one completes their task and hands over to the next. On July 14, the LVM3 rocket was the vehicle that carried the 3.9-tonne spacecraft (comprising the propulsion module, lander and rover) into the earth's orbit. Performing its task in about 16 minutes, India's largest rocket injected the satellites into the desired orbit. Then on, the craft's propulsion module gradually pushed and steered the craft away from the Earth, using its onboard engines. Until July 31, the craft orbited the earth and then fired its engines to gain more velocity, pushing itself to rendezvous with the moon in a few days (lunar transfer trajectory). On August 5, the craft reached the vicinity of the moon and fired its engines to slow itself down, reduce its orbit and get captured by lunar gravity. From August 5 till August 17, the craft has been circling the moon. Once in a few days, the craft retro-fired its engines to slow down and reduce its orbit and get closer to the lunar surface. On Thursday, as the craft was in a 153 km x 163 km orbit, the propulsion module and lander module separated. This means that the propulsion module has completed its core task of getting the craft into an orbit around the moon. Watch | Chandrayaan-3 to land on the moon on August 23 × Henceforth, it will be the responsibility of the Vikram lander to test its cameras, sensors and engines, as it prepares for a lunar soft landing. The lander craft will commence reducing its orbit on Friday (August 18) and eventually cut down its velocity from a few kilometres/second to one metre/second, which is the ideal speed for lunar soft-landing. After the successful soft landing, the lander is meant to open its ramp and allow the 'Pragyan' rover to roll out onto the lunar surface. In close coordination with each other, the lander, rover and propulsion module would then carry out their respective scientific tasks and send their data back to Earth. As far as the lander and rover are concerned, ISRO is looking at an operational life of one lunar day or two weeks on Earth. However, after the lunar night passes and the new dawn breaks, when the sunlight is available, it is possible that the lander and rover come back to life. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chandrayaan-3 mission: Two vehicles have done their job, two more to go

Chandrayaan-3 is on its final voyage. Vikram Lander successfully separated from the spacecraft. The lander is now on its solo journey to the Moon.

Chandrayaan-3: Challenges ahead of Vikram lander's solo journey to the Moon

Chandrayaan-3 is all set for lunar landing. The landing site has been changed. As ISRO pins hope on lessons from failure. ISRO has moved the landing site slightly from the previous location of Chandryaan-2.

Chandrayaan-3: What made ISRO change the landing site when compared to Chandrayaan-2?

Chandryaan-3 is heading towards Moon. After covering the orbital path around Earth. The spacecraft entered the Moon's orbit.

Chandrayaan-3: The mission objectives of lander Vikram, rover Pragyan on the Moon

<p>The Indian and Japanese space agencies are planning a joint mission to the Moon, that is meant to explore the Polar region. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission, which will be known as Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), will feature an Indian lunar lander and a Japanese rover. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed this and Japan’s future mission plans, at the Sydney Dialogue, an initiative by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oxygen-on-moons-surface-may-keep-billions-alive-for-100000-years-428560" hreflang="en">Oxygen on Moon's surface may keep billions alive for 100,000 years &nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>Speaking of International cooperation, Dr Yamakawa said that the International Space Station was a great example, as it had ensured the continuous presence of humankind in space for more than two decades. On the need for greater collaboration between Quad countries (US-Japan-Australia-India), he added that the future lunar exploration had to be a joint effort, as there existed the possibility of having a manned space station in the vicinity of the moon, which can enable sustained exploration in the region and also on the lunar surface. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Japanese Space agency head emphasised on the need for multi-national missions to Mars that would be led by Quad countries, owing to the high costs of manned missions. Referring to the successful Hayabusa 2 mission, he threw light on how Japan had developed the capability to land rovers on an asteroid, remain there, collect samples and return them back to earth. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hayabusa 2 spacecraft arrived on asteroid Ryugu in June 2018, deployed rovers and landers to collect samples and then delivered it to earth on December 6, 2020 as the spacecraft swooped by earth and dropped a landing capsule containing the samples. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Japan’s planned Mars mission, he said that the country saw the future of Mars exploration as a mix of unmanned robotic and manned. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission aims to study Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos, while also collecting a sample from Phobos and returning it to Earth. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astronomers-identify-moons-small-chunk-tracking-earths-orbit-around-sun-428748" hreflang="en">Astronomers identify moon’s small chunk tracking Earth’s orbit around Sun</a></strong></p>

<p>“Multilateral international cooperation is ideal and realistic than going alone, each one can contribute in the field of their technical expertise and share the cost” he urged the heads of Quad Country Space bodies. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>This announcement on the LUPEX mission with India comes at a time when many countries are teaming up with America for the Artemis programme that aims to get humans back to the moon, establish a long-term human presence and enable further exploration. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>This plan is also a precursor to the mission to send astronauts to Mars. India, however, has not made any announcements pertaining to any collaboration with the Artemis mission. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


The Indian and Japanese space agencies are planning a joint mission to the Moon, that is meant to explore the Polar region. The mission, which will be known as Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), will feature an Indian lunar lander and a Japanese rover.

The Indian and Japanese space agencies are planning a joint mission to the Moon, that is meant to explore the Polar region. The mission, which will be known as Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), will feature an Indian lunar lander and a Japanese rover. Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed this and Japan’s future mission plans, at the Sydney Dialogue, an initiative by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Also Read: Oxygen on Moon's surface may keep billions alive for 100,000 years Speaking of International cooperation, Dr Yamakawa said that the International Space Station was a great example, as it had ensured the continuous presence of humankind in space for more than two decades. On the need for greater collaboration between Quad countries (US-Japan-Australia-India), he added that the future lunar exploration had to be a joint effort, as there existed the possibility of having a manned space station in the vicinity of the moon, which can enable sustained exploration in the region and also on the lunar surface. The Japanese Space agency head emphasised on the need for multi-national missions to Mars that would be led by Quad countries, owing to the high costs of manned missions. Referring to the successful Hayabusa 2 mission, he threw light on how Japan had developed the capability to land rovers on an asteroid, remain there, collect samples and return them back to earth. Hayabusa 2 spacecraft arrived on asteroid Ryugu in June 2018, deployed rovers and landers to collect samples and then delivered it to earth on December 6, 2020 as the spacecraft swooped by earth and dropped a landing capsule containing the samples. On Japan’s planned Mars mission, he said that the country saw the future of Mars exploration as a mix of unmanned robotic and manned. Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission aims to study Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos, while also collecting a sample from Phobos and returning it to Earth. Also Read: Astronomers identify moon’s small chunk tracking Earth’s orbit around Sun “Multilateral international cooperation is ideal and realistic than going alone, each one can contribute in the field of their technical expertise and share the cost” he urged the heads of Quad Country Space bodies. This announcement on the LUPEX mission with India comes at a time when many countries are teaming up with America for the Artemis programme that aims to get humans back to the moon, establish a long-term human presence and enable further exploration. This plan is also a precursor to the mission to send astronauts to Mars. India, however, has not made any announcements pertaining to any collaboration with the Artemis mission.

Indian lunar lander, Japanese rover to explore Moon in LUPEX mission, says JAXA Official

<p>The Senate has confirmed geneticist Eric Lander to be President Joe Biden's chief science adviser, one of the last unfilled Cabinet posts in the Biden administration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lander, founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, was approved by a voice vote on Friday to serve as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, a position Biden has elevated to Cabinet rank. Lander, who also is a mathematician and molecular biologist, was lead author of the first paper announcing the details of the human genome, the so-called 'book of life’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His nomination was delayed for months as senators sought more information about meetings he had with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier, who was charged with sex trafficking before his apparent suicide. Lander also was criticised for downplaying the contributions of two Nobel Prize-winning female scientists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At his confirmation hearing last month, Lander apologised for a 2016 article he wrote that downplayed the work of the female scientists. At the hearing, he also called Epstein 'an abhorrent individual’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lander said he "understated the importance of those key advances'' by biochemists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. The two were later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I felt terrible about it, I made a mistake. And when I make a mistake, I own it and try to do better,'' Lander said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I should have written those paragraphs differently to make my intention crystal clear. I have enormous respect for Doctors Doudna and Charpentier and the important work they've done throughout their careers.''&nbsp;</p>

<p>He only met with Epstein twice, in 2012, Lander said, and never requested or received funds from Epstein or his foundation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sen Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said at a May 20 committee meeting that she wished Biden had named a woman as science adviser, but that Lander had pledged to work to elevate women and minorities in science.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lander said in a statement on Friday that Biden's elevation of the science post made clear that science and technology will be central to solving the nation's most urgent challenges, including health, environmental quality and justice for all Americans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lander's confirmation leaves Biden's Cabinet nearly complete. The only remaining unfilled Cabinet post is that of Office of Management and Budget director. Shalanda Young has been serving as acting OMB director after her confirmation as deputy director. Neera Tanden withdrew her nomination for OMB head after several senators said they would not vote for her. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;</em></p>


The Senate has confirmed geneticist Eric Lander to be President Joe Biden's chief science adviser, one of the last unfilled Cabinet posts in the Biden administration.

The Senate has confirmed geneticist Eric Lander to be President Joe Biden's chief science adviser, one of the last unfilled Cabinet posts in the Biden administration. Lander, founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, was approved by a voice vote on Friday to serve as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, a position Biden has elevated to Cabinet rank. Lander, who also is a mathematician and molecular biologist, was lead author of the first paper announcing the details of the human genome, the so-called 'book of life’. His nomination was delayed for months as senators sought more information about meetings he had with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier, who was charged with sex trafficking before his apparent suicide. Lander also was criticised for downplaying the contributions of two Nobel Prize-winning female scientists. At his confirmation hearing last month, Lander apologised for a 2016 article he wrote that downplayed the work of the female scientists. At the hearing, he also called Epstein 'an abhorrent individual’. Lander said he "understated the importance of those key advances'' by biochemists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. The two were later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. "I felt terrible about it, I made a mistake. And when I make a mistake, I own it and try to do better,'' Lander said. "I should have written those paragraphs differently to make my intention crystal clear. I have enormous respect for Doctors Doudna and Charpentier and the important work they've done throughout their careers.'' He only met with Epstein twice, in 2012, Lander said, and never requested or received funds from Epstein or his foundation. Sen Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said at a May 20 committee meeting that she wished Biden had named a woman as science adviser, but that Lander had pledged to work to elevate women and minorities in science. Lander said in a statement on Friday that Biden's elevation of the science post made clear that science and technology will be central to solving the nation's most urgent challenges, including health, environmental quality and justice for all Americans. Lander's confirmation leaves Biden's Cabinet nearly complete. The only remaining unfilled Cabinet post is that of Office of Management and Budget director. Shalanda Young has been serving as acting OMB director after her confirmation as deputy director. Neera Tanden withdrew her nomination for OMB head after several senators said they would not vote for her. (With inputs from agencies)

Senate confirms geneticist Lander as Biden science adviser  

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-wants-international-partners-to-go-to-moon-too-257407">National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)</a> will send a golf cart-sized robot to the moon in 2022 to search for deposits of water below the surface, an effort to evaluate the vital resource ahead of a planned human return to the moon in 2024 to possibly use it for astronauts to drink and to make rocket fuel, the US&nbsp;space agency said on Friday.</p>

<p>The VIPER robot will drive for kilometres&nbsp;on the dusty lunar surface to get a closer look at what NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine has touted for months: underground pockets of&nbsp;"hundreds of millions of tons of water ice" that could help turn the moon into a jumping-off point to Mars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"VIPER is going to assess where the water ice is. We're going to be able&nbsp;to characterize the water ice, and ultimately drill," Bridenstine said on Friday at the International Astronautical Congress in Washington. "Why is this important? Because water ice represents something significant. Life support."&nbsp;</p>

<p>VIPER stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover.</p>

<p>The rover is expected to arrive on the moon's south polar region in December 2022, carrying four instruments to sample lunar soil for traces of hydrogen and oxygen - the basic components of water that can be separated and synthesized into fuel for a planned fleet of commercial lunar launch vehicles.</p>

<p>In development at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, the VIPER robot will log "about&nbsp;100 days of data that will be used to inform the first global water resource maps of the moon," NASA said in announcing the plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA is in the process of kickstarting its Artemis programme, an accelerated mission to put people back on the moon for the first time since the 1970s to train and prove technologies that would later be sent on a Mars mission.&nbsp;Scientists have eyed lunar water as a key resource for enabling long-duration astronaut missions on the moon, though its form and exact amount are unknown. VIPER will aim to find out.</p>

<p>NASA crashed a rocket onto the moon's south pole in 2009 to confirm traces of lunar water ice in the plume of dust kicked up upon impact.&nbsp;</p>


National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will send a golf cart-sized robot to the moon in 2022 to search for deposits of water below the surface, an effort to evaluate the vital resource ahead of a planned human return to the moon in 2024 to possibly use it for astronauts to drink and to make rocket fuel, the US space agency said on Friday.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will send a golf cart-sized robot to the moon in 2022 to search for deposits of water below the surface, an effort to evaluate the vital resource ahead of a planned human return to the moon in 2024 to possibly use it for astronauts to drink and to make rocket fuel, the US space agency said on Friday. The VIPER robot will drive for kilometres on the dusty lunar surface to get a closer look at what NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine has touted for months: underground pockets of "hundreds of millions of tons of water ice" that could help turn the moon into a jumping-off point to Mars. "VIPER is going to assess where the water ice is. We're going to be able to characterize the water ice, and ultimately drill," Bridenstine said on Friday at the International Astronautical Congress in Washington. "Why is this important? Because water ice represents something significant. Life support." VIPER stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover. The rover is expected to arrive on the moon's south polar region in December 2022, carrying four instruments to sample lunar soil for traces of hydrogen and oxygen - the basic components of water that can be separated and synthesized into fuel for a planned fleet of commercial lunar launch vehicles. In development at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, the VIPER robot will log "about 100 days of data that will be used to inform the first global water resource maps of the moon," NASA said in announcing the plans. NASA is in the process of kickstarting its Artemis programme, an accelerated mission to put people back on the moon for the first time since the 1970s to train and prove technologies that would later be sent on a Mars mission. Scientists have eyed lunar water as a key resource for enabling long-duration astronaut missions on the moon, though its form and exact amount are unknown. VIPER will aim to find out. NASA crashed a rocket onto the moon's south pole in 2009 to confirm traces of lunar water ice in the plume of dust kicked up upon impact.

NASA plans to send water-hunting robot to moon surface in 2022

<p>Chandrayaan-2 orbiter continues to perform the mission to complete satisfaction while experts are still analysing the communication loss with Vikram lander, informed Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday.</p>

<p>"#Chandrayaan2 Orbiter continues to perform scheduled science experiments to complete satisfaction. Meanwhile, the National Committee of academicians and ISRO experts are analyzing the cause of communication loss with #VikramLander," tweeted ISRO.</p>

<p>ISRO further informed that the initial trials for orbiter payloads were completed successfully and the performance of all orbiter payloads was satisfactory.</p>

<p>Earlier this month, ISRO Chairman K Sivan had stated that the Chandryaan-2 orbiter has clicked a thermal image of Vikram Lander.</p>

<p>The Lander Vikram was to soft-land on the far side of the moon at on September 7.</p>

<p>Minutes before its scheduled soft-landing, the communication with Vikram Lander was lost.</p>

<p>The Vikram Lander successfully separated from Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 2.</p>

<p>After revolving around the Earth's orbit for nearly 23 days, the craft began its journey to the moon on August 14.</p>

<p>The mission took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 22.&nbsp;</p>


Chandrayaan-2 orbiter continues to perform the mission to complete satisfaction while experts are still analysing the communication loss with Vikram lander, informed Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday.

Chandrayaan-2 orbiter continues to perform the mission to complete satisfaction while experts are still analysing the communication loss with Vikram lander, informed Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday. "#Chandrayaan2 Orbiter continues to perform scheduled science experiments to complete satisfaction. Meanwhile, the National Committee of academicians and ISRO experts are analyzing the cause of communication loss with #VikramLander," tweeted ISRO. ISRO further informed that the initial trials for orbiter payloads were completed successfully and the performance of all orbiter payloads was satisfactory. Earlier this month, ISRO Chairman K Sivan had stated that the Chandryaan-2 orbiter has clicked a thermal image of Vikram Lander. The Lander Vikram was to soft-land on the far side of the moon at on September 7. Minutes before its scheduled soft-landing, the communication with Vikram Lander was lost. The Vikram Lander successfully separated from Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 2. After revolving around the Earth's orbit for nearly 23 days, the craft began its journey to the moon on August 14. The mission took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 22.

Chandrayaan-2 orbiter performing mission to complete satisfaction: ISRO

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the evening from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

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ISRO constantly trying to resume contact with lander. Communication was lost just 2.1KM above the moon's surface. Y.S Rajan, scientist, ISRO speaks on the latest developments.

Chandrayaan 2: Orbiter clicks Thermal Image of Lander

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Chandrayaan-2: What Lander 'Vikram' & Rover 'Pragyan' plan to find on the Moon

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