View source for Engineering:Pragyan (rover)

{{Short description|Indian lunar rover}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Split|date=August 2023|''Pragyan'' (''Chandrayaan-2'')|''Pragyan'' (''Chandrayaan-3'')|discuss=Talk:Pragyan (rover)#Need to split article}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name               = ''Pragyan''
| image              = Pragyan rover deployed on the moon.webp
| image_caption      = ''Pragyan'' roll out on Moon
| mission_type       = [[Astronomy:Lunar rover|Lunar rover]]
| operator           = [[Astronomy:ISRO|ISRO]]
| mission_duration   = {{plainlist|
* [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-2|Chandrayaan-2]]: 0 days (landing failure)
* [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-3|Chandrayaan-3]]: {{time interval|August 23, 2023|September 4, 2023}} (final)
}}
| manufacturer       = [[Astronomy:ISRO|ISRO]]
| landing_mass       = {{plainlist|
* Chandrayaan-2: {{cvt|27|kg}}
* Chandrayaan-3: {{cvt|26|kg}}
}}
| dimensions         = {{cvt|0.9|x|0.75|x|0.85|m|ft}}
| power              = 50 W from [[Physics:Solar panels on spacecraft|solar panels]]
| launch_date        = {{plainlist|
* Chandrayaan-2: {{start-date|22 July 2019}} 14:43:12 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] (09:13:12 [[UTC]])
* Chandrayaan-3: {{start-date|14 July 2023}} 14:35 IST (09:05 UTC)<ref name="scheduled launch">{{Cite news |title=ISRO to launch moon mission Chandrayaan-3 on July 14. Check details |date=2023-07-06 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chandrayaan3-to-be-launched-on-july-14-announces-isro-101688644208853.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Hindustan Times |archive-date=2023-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708231639/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chandrayaan3-to-be-launched-on-july-14-announces-isro-101688644208853.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
| launch_rocket      = [[Engineering:LVM3|LVM3]] M1, [[Engineering:LVM3|LVM3]] M4
| launch_site        = [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre|SDSC]] [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad|Second launch pad]]
| deployment_from    = [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-2#Vikram lander|''Vikram'']]
| deployment_date    = {{plainlist| * Chandrayaan-2: 7 September 2019 (intended,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/02-sep-2019/live-media-coverage-of-landing-of-chandrayaan-2-lunar-surface|title=Live media coverage of the landing of Chandrayaan-2 on lunar surface – ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2019-09-02|archive-date=2019-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902212259/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/02-sep-2019/live-media-coverage-of-landing-of-chandrayaan-2-lunar-surface|url-status=dead}}</ref> never deployed from destroyed lander)<ref name='L Update'>{{Cite web|title = Chandrayaan – 2 Latest Update|url = https://www.isro.gov.in/update/07-sep-2019/chandrayaan-2-latest-update|date = September 7, 2019|access-date = September 11, 2019|website = isro.gov.in|archive-date = September 8, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190908052939/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/07-sep-2019/chandrayaan-2-latest-update|url-status = dead}}</ref>
* Chandrayaan-3: 23 August 2023<ref name="Landing date">{{Cite web |title=Chandrayaan-3 launch on July 14; August 23–24 preferred landing dates |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/indias-moon-mission-chandrayaan-3-to-be-launched-on-july-14-at-2-35pm/articleshow/101547465.cms |date=6 July 2023 |website=THE TIMES OF INDIA |access-date=7 July 2023 |archive-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825135914/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-moon-mission-chandrayaan-3-to-be-launched-on-july-14-at-2-35pm/articleshow/101547465.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
| launch_contractor  = [[Astronomy:ISRO|ISRO]]
| last_contact       = 
| declared           = 
| interplanetary     = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
   |type                = rover
   |object              = Lunar
   |arrival_date        = {{plainlist|
* Chandrayaan-2: 6 September 2019, 20:00–21:00 UTC
* Chandrayaan-3: 23 August 2023, 12:32 UTC<ref>{{Cite web|title = Chandrayaan-2 update: Fifth Lunar Orbit Maneuver|url = https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-sep-2019/chandrayaan-2-update-fifth-lunar-orbit-maneuver|date = September 1, 2019|access-date = September 1, 2019|publisher = [[Astronomy:Indian Space Research Organisation|Indian Space Research Organisation]]|archive-date = September 3, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190903075526/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-sep-2019/chandrayaan-2-update-fifth-lunar-orbit-maneuver|url-status = dead}}</ref>
}}
   |location            = Attempted: 70.90267°S  22.78110°E<ref name="Amitabh2018">{{cite conference |url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2018/pdf/1975.pdf |title=Potential Landing Sites for Chandrayaan-2 Lander in Southern Hemisphere of Moon |conference=49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 19–23 March 2018. The Woodlands, Texas. |first1=S. |last1=Amitabh |first2=T. P. |last2=Srinivasan |first3=K. |last3=Suresh |date=2018 |bibcode=2018LPI....49.1975A |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822054335/https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2018/pdf/1975.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2018}}</ref> (Intended) <br /> Crash landing at least 500m away from planned site. (Actual)
   |distance            = {{plainlist|
* Chandrayaan-2: {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on}} (intended)
* Chandrayaan-3: {{Cvt|101.4|m}}
}}
}}
| programme          = [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan programme|Chandrayaan programme]]
| previous_mission   = 
}}

'''''Pragyan''''' (from {{lang-sa|prajñāna|translit=|lit=wisdom}})<ref name="Chandrayaan-2 Spacecraft">{{cite web |title=Chandrayaan-2 Spacecraft |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/chandrayaan2-spacecraft |access-date=24 August 2019 |quote=Chandrayaan 2's Rover is a 6-wheeled robotic vehicle named Pragyan, which translates to 'wisdom' in Sanskrit. |archive-date=18 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718050818/https://www.isro.gov.in/chandrayaan2-spacecraft |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://sanskritlibrary.org/cologne/apidev/servepdf.php?dict=WIL&page=561|title=A dictionary in Sanscrit and English|last=Wilson|first=Horace Hayman|publisher=Education Press|year=1832|location=Calcutta|page=561|access-date=2019-09-01|archive-date=2019-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124234/https://sanskritlibrary.org/cologne/apidev/servepdf.php?dict=WIL&page=561|url-status=live}}</ref> is a [[Astronomy:Lunar rover|lunar rover]] that forms part of [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-3|Chandrayaan-3]], a lunar mission developed by the [[Astronomy:ISRO|Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-2-launch-between-july-9-and-16-isro/articleshow/69132299.cms|title=Isro: Chandrayaan-2 launch between July 9 and 16 &#124; India News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=May 2019|access-date=2019-05-01|archive-date=2019-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518232417/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-2-launch-between-july-9-and-16-isro/articleshow/69132299.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> A previous iteration of the rover was launched as part of [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-2|Chandrayaan-2]] on 22 July 2019 and was destroyed with its lander, ''Vikram'', when it crashed on the [[Astronomy:Moon|Moon]] on 6 September.<ref name="L Update"/><ref name="Hard landing TOI">[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vikram-lander-located-did-not-soft-land-on-moon-isro/articleshow/71037009.cms Vikram lander located on lunar surface, wasn't a soft landing: Isro.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020248/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vikram-lander-located-did-not-soft-land-on-moon-isro/articleshow/71037009.cms |date=2020-11-12 }} ''Times of India''. 8 September 2019.</ref> Chandrayaan-3 launched on 14 July 2023, carrying new versions of ''Vikram'' and ''Pragyan'',<ref name="scheduled launch"/> which successfully landed near the [[Astronomy:Lunar south pole|lunar south pole]] on 23 August 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-06 |title=Chandrayaan-3 launch on 14 July, lunar landing on 23 or 24 August |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-14-at-235-pm/article67049236.ece |access-date=2023-07-14 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2023-07-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711031538/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-14-at-235-pm/article67049236.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan rover.png|thumb|Schematic view of the rover]]
''Pragyan'' has a mass of about {{cvt|27|kg|lb}} and dimensions of {{cvt|0.9|x|0.75|x|0.85|m|ft}}, with a power output of 50 [[Watt|watt]]s.<ref name="Launchkit_gl">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/gslv-mk-iii-m1-chandrayaan-2-mission/launch-kit-glance|title=Launch Kit at a glance{{snd}}ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2019-08-05|archive-date=2019-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723232918/https://www.isro.gov.in/gslv-mk-iii-m1-chandrayaan-2-mission/launch-kit-glance|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is designed to operate on solar power.<ref name="ndtv20180829">{{cite news |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/science/news/chandrayaan-2-to-be-launched-in-january-2019-says-isro-chief-1907969 |title=Chandrayaan-2 to Be Launched in January 2019, Says ISRO Chief |work=Gadgets360 |publisher=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |date=29 August 2018 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829225643/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/science/news/chandrayaan-2-to-be-launched-in-january-2019-says-isro-chief-1907969 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="idos20180828">{{Cite press release |title=ISRO to send first Indian into Space by 2022 as announced by PM, says Dr Jitendra Singh |date=28 August 2018 |publisher=[[Astronomy:Department of Space|Department of Space]] |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=183103 |access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref> The rover moves on six wheels and is intended to traverse {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} on the lunar surface at the rate of {{cvt|1|cm}} per second, performing on-site analysis and sending the data to its lander for relay back to the Earth.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://thewire.in/space/isro-will-launch-chandrayaan-2-in-wee-hours-of-july-15-landing-by-september-7| title=ISRO to Launch Chandrayaan 2 on July 15, Moon Landing by September 7| website=The Wire| access-date=2019-06-12| archive-date=2019-06-13| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613012659/https://thewire.in/space/isro-will-launch-chandrayaan-2-in-wee-hours-of-july-15-landing-by-september-7| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-2-will-carry-14-payloads-to-moon-no-foreign-module-this-time/articleshow/69265687.cms|title=Chandrayaan-2 will carry 14 payloads to moon, no foreign module this time|last=Singh|first=Surendra|newspaper=The Times of India|date=10 May 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-05-11|archive-date=2019-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510162809/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chandrayaan-2-will-carry-14-payloads-to-moon-no-foreign-module-this-time/articleshow/69265687.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="payload">{{cite press release |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/30-aug-2010/payloads-chandrayaan-2-mission-finalised |title=Payloads for Chandrayaan-2 Mission Finalised |publisher=Indian Space Research Organisation |date=30 August 2010 |access-date=4 January 2010 |archive-date=13 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513213938/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/30-aug-2010/payloads-chandrayaan-2-mission-finalised |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Economic">{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-09-02/news/27621231_1_chandrayaan-2-chandrayaan-1-lunar-surface |title=Chandrayaan-2 to get closer to moon |work=The Economic Times |agency=Times News Network |date=2 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812045710/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-09-02/news/27621231_1_chandrayaan-2-chandrayaan-1-lunar-surface |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://theprint.in/science/why-chandrayaan-2-is-isros-most-complex-mission-so-far/249252/|title=Why Chandrayaan-2 is ISRO's 'most complex mission' so far|last=Ramesh|first=Sandhya|date=12 June 2019|work=ThePrint|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711103152/https://theprint.in/science/why-chandrayaan-2-is-isros-most-complex-mission-so-far/249252/|url-status=live}}</ref> For navigation, the rover is equipped with:

* Stereoscopic camera-based 3D vision: two 1-megapixel, monochromatic NAVCAMs in front of the rover to provide the ground control team a 3D view of the surrounding terrain, and help in path-planning by generating a [[Earth:Digital elevation model|digital elevation model]] of the terrain.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Laxmiprasad |first1=A.S |last2=Sridhar Raja |first2=V.L.N |last3=Menon |first3=Surya |last4=Goswami |first4=Adwaita |last5=Rao |first5=M.V.H |last6=Lohar |first6=K.A |date=15 July 2013 |title=An in situ laser induced breakdown spectroscope (LIBS) for Chandrayaan-2 rover: Ablation kinetics and emissivity estimations |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0273117713001749 |journal=[[Astronomy:Advances in Space Research|Advances in Space Research]] |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=332–321 |doi=10.1016/j.asr.2013.03.021 |bibcode=2013AdSpR..52..332L |via=[[ScienceDirect]] |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313002824/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0273117713001749 |url-status=live }}</ref> IIT Kanpur contributed to the development of the subsystems for light-based map generation and motion planning for the rover.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/with-robot-hands-iit-k-profs-bring-joy-to-paralytics/articleshow/70151178.cms|title=With robot hands, IIT-K profs bring joy to paralytics|date=2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10|archive-date=2019-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720235523/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/with-robot-hands-iit-k-profs-bring-joy-to-paralytics/articleshow/70151178.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Control and motor dynamics: the rover design has a [[Astronomy:Rocker-bogie|rocker-bogie]] suspension system and six wheels, each driven by independent [[Engineering:Brushless DC electric motor|brushless DC electric motor]]s. Steering is accomplished by differential speed of the wheels or skid steering.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://spaceexplor.iaaweb.org/?q=ipc| title="Chandrayaan-2: Lunar Orbiter & Lander Mission", 10th IAA Symposium on The Future of Space Exploration: Towards the Moon Village and Beyond, Torin, Italy.| last1=Annadurai |first1=Mylswami |last2=Nagesh| first2=G.| date=28 June 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628213352/http://spaceexplor.iaaweb.org/?q=ipc|archive-date=28 June 2017| access-date=14 June 2019| quote=Mobility of the Rover in the unknown lunar terrain is accomplished by a Rocker bogie suspension system driven by six wheels. Brushless DC motors are used to drive the wheels to move along the desired path and steering is accomplished by differential speed of the wheels. The wheels are designed after extensive modelling of the wheel-soil interaction, considering the lunar soil properties, sinkage and slippage results from a single wheel test bed. The Rover mobility has been tested in the Lunar test facility wherein the soil simulant, terrain and the gravity of moon are simulated. The limitations w.r.t slope, obstacles, pits in view of slippage/sinkage have been experimentally verified with the analysis results.|last3=Vanitha|first3=Muthayaa}} [https://archive.org/details/IAAFSE170602Annadurai/page/n6 Alt URL]</ref>

The expected operating time of the rover is one lunar day or around 14 Earth days, as its electronics are not designed to endure the frigid lunar night. Its power system has a solar-powered sleep and wake-up cycle, which could result in a longer operation time than planned.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dr-m-annadurai-project-director-chandrayaan-1-chandrayaan-2-isro-moon-5805873/|title=Dr M Annadurai, Project director, Chandrayaan 1: 'Chandrayaan 2 logical extension of what we did in first mission'|date=2019-06-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-06-30|archive-date=2019-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629180634/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dr-m-annadurai-project-director-chandrayaan-1-chandrayaan-2-isro-moon-5805873/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| last1=Payyappilly| first1=Baiju| last2=Muthusamy| first2=Sankaran| date=17 January 2018| chapter=Design framework of a configurable electrical power system for lunar rover| chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321408524| title=2017 4th International Conference on Power, Control & Embedded Systems (ICPCES)| pages=1–6| doi=10.1109/ICPCES.2017.8117660| isbn=978-1-5090-4426-9| s2cid=38638820| access-date=5 August 2019| archive-date=20 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720203342/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321408524_Design_framework_of_a_configurable_electrical_power_system_for_lunar_rover| url-status=live}}</ref>

== Chandrayaan-2 (2019) ==
{{further|Astronomy:Chandrayaan-2}}
[[File:GSLV Mk III M1, Chandrayaan-2 - Pragyan rover mounted on the ramp of Vikram lander (cropped).jpg|thumb|''Pragyan'' mounted on the ramp of ''Vikram'' lander]]

===Planned landing site ===
Two landing sites were selected in the [[Astronomy:Lunar south pole|lunar south polar]] region, each with a landing ellipse of {{cvt|32|x|11|km}}.<ref name="Amitabh2018"/> The prime landing site (PLS54) is at {{Coord|70.90267|S|22.78110|E|globe:Moon|display=inline}}, approximately {{cvt|350|km}} north of the rim of the [[Astronomy:South Pole–Aitken basin|South Pole–Aitken basin]].<ref name="Rishitosh 2019">[https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/1493.pdf Geological Insights into Chandrayaan-2 Landing Site in the Southern High Latitudes of the Moon.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619200119/https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/1493.pdf |date=2020-06-19 }} Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan Sivaprahasam, Megha Bhatt, Harish Nandal, Nandita Kumari, Neeraj Srivastava, Indhu Varatharajan, Dwijesh Ray, Christian Wöhler, and Anil Bhardwaj. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2132).</ref><ref name="Amitabh2018"/> The alternative landing site (ALS01) is at {{Coord|67.87406|S|18.46947|W|globe:Moon|display=inline}}. The prime site is on a high plain between the craters [[Astronomy:Manzinus (crater)|Manzinus&nbsp;C]] and [[Astronomy:Simpelius (crater)|Simpelius&nbsp;N]],<ref>[https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chandrayaan-2-how-lander-vikram-will-touchdown-on-the-moon-1563081825336.html Chandrayaan-2: How 'Lander Vikram' will touchdown on the moon?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719070148/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/chandrayaan-2-how-lander-vikram-will-touchdown-on-the-moon-1563081825336.html |date=2019-07-19 }} Srishti Choudhary, ''Live Mint'' 14 July 2019.</ref><ref name='Rishitosh 2019'/> on the [[Astronomy:Near side of the Moon|near side of the Moon]].<ref name="Amitabh2018"/>  The criteria used to select the landing zones were a location in the south polar region and on the near side, a slope less than 15 degrees, with boulders less than {{cvt|50|cm|in}} in diameter, a crater and boulder distribution, being sunlit for at least 14 days, and with nearby ridges not shadowing the site for long durations.<ref name="Amitabh2018"/>

Both the planned site and the alternative site are located within the polar LQ30 [[Astronomy:List of quadrangles on the Moon|quadrangle]]. The surface likely consists of impact melt, possibly mantled by ejecta from the massive [[Astronomy:South Pole–Aitken basin|South Pole–Aitken basin]] and mixing by subsequent nearby impacts.<ref name='Mest 2015'>[https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/2510.pdf Update on the Geologic Mapping of the Lunar South Pole Quadrangle (LQ-30): Evaluating Mare, Cryptomare and Impact Melt Deposits.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616045131/http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/2510.pdf |date=2022-06-16 }} S. C. Mest, D. C. Berman, N.E. Petro, and R. A. Yingst. 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2015).</ref> The nature of the melt is mostly [[Earth:Mafic|mafic]],<ref name='Mest 2015'/> meaning it is rich in [[Chemistry:Silicate mineral|silicate mineral]]s, [[Chemistry:Magnesium|magnesium]], and [[Chemistry:Iron|iron]]. The region could also offer scientifically valuable rocks from the [[Astronomy:Internal structure of the Moon|lunar mantle]] if the basin impactor excavated all the way through the crust.<ref>[https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/as-india-prepares-for-another-moon-mission-here-is-what-makes-chandrayaan-2-special/262403/ As India prepares for another Moon mission, here is what makes Chandrayaan-2 special.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806145056/https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/as-india-prepares-for-another-moon-mission-here-is-what-makes-chandrayaan-2-special/262403/ |date=2019-08-06 }} Sandhya Ramesh, ''The Print''. 14 July 2019.</ref>

===Crash landing===
The lander ''Vikram'', carrying ''Pragyan'', separated from the [[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-2|Chandrayaan-2]] orbiter on 7 September 2019 and was scheduled to land on the Moon at around 1:50&nbsp;a.m. [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]. The initial descent was considered within mission parameters, passing critical braking procedures as planned. The descent and soft-landing was to be done by the on-board computers on ''Vikram'', with mission control unable to make corrections.<ref>[https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/chandrayaan-2-heres-everything-about-isro-moon-landing-its-vikram-lander/1697029/ Chandrayaan 2: Here's everything about ISRO Moon-landing its Vikram lander.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911214743/https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/chandrayaan-2-heres-everything-about-isro-moon-landing-its-vikram-lander/1697029/ |date=2019-09-11 }} ''Financial Express''. Ribhu Mishra, 7 September 2019.</ref>

The lander's trajectory began to deviate at about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 mi; 6,900 ft) above the surface.<ref>[https://www.space.com/india-moon-lander-found-by-chandrayaan-2-orbiter.html India Just Found Its Lost Vikram Lander on the Moon, Still No Signal.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909045912/https://www.space.com/india-moon-lander-found-by-chandrayaan-2-orbiter.html |date=2019-09-09 }} Tariq Malik ,''Space''. 8 September 2019.</ref> The final [[Telemetry|telemetry]] readings during ISRO's live-stream show that ''Vikram''{{'s}} final vertical velocity was {{cvt|58|m/s|km/h mph}} at {{cvt|330|m}} above the surface, which according to the MIT ''Technology Review'' was "quite fast for a lunar landing".<ref name='Patel MIT'>{{cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/f/614280/india-s-chandrayaan-2-lander-likely-crashed-into-the-moons-surface/|title=India's Chandrayaan-2 lander likely crashed into the moon's surface.|author=Neel V. Patel|website=MIT Technology Review|date=6 September 2019|access-date=7 September 2019|archive-date=6 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906222449/https://www.technologyreview.com/f/614280/india-s-chandrayaan-2-lander-likely-crashed-into-the-moons-surface/|url-status=live}}</ref> Initial reports suggested a crash,<ref name='Apparent crash'>[https://www.space.com/india-moon-mission-not-over-chandrayaan-2.html India's Moon Mission Continues Despite Apparent Lander Crash.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909041327/https://www.space.com/india-moon-mission-not-over-chandrayaan-2.html |date=2019-09-09 }} Mike Wall, ''Space''. 7 September 2019. Quote: "India's Moon Mission Continues Despite Apparent Lander Crash."</ref><ref name="planetary landing">{{Cite web|url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/vikram-apparently-crash-lands.html|title=India's Vikram Spacecraft Apparently Crash-Lands on Moon|website=www.planetary.org|language=en|access-date=7 September 2019|archive-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910230719/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/vikram-apparently-crash-lands.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and were later confirmed by ISRO chairman K. Sivan, stating that the lander location had been found, and "it must had been a hard landing".<ref name="Hard landing TOI"/><ref name="landerspotted">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/lander-vikram-located-k-sivan20190908141242/|title=Lander Vikram located: K Sivan|website=www.aninews.in|language=en|access-date=2019-09-08|archive-date=2019-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908125712/https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/lander-vikram-located-k-sivan20190908141242/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/world/asia/india-chandrayaan-2-lander-moon.html | title = India Says It Has Located Chandrayaan-2 Lander on Moon's Surface | first = Kai | last = Schultz | date = 8 September 2019 | access-date = 8 September 2019 | work = {{wipe|The New York Times}} | archive-date = 8 September 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190908122008/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/world/asia/india-chandrayaan-2-lander-moon.html | url-status = live }}</ref> The [[Astronomy:Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter|Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter]] took images of the crash site, showing that the lander had been destroyed by the impact, creating an impact site and debris field spanning kilometers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/03/indias-crashed-vikram-moon-lander-spotted-on-lunar-surface|title=India's crashed Vikram moon lander spotted on lunar surface|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=December 3, 2019|website=the Guardian|access-date=October 5, 2021|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006012535/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/03/indias-crashed-vikram-moon-lander-spotted-on-lunar-surface|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Chandrayaan-3 (2023) ==
[[File:The lunar crater that the Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 encountered on 27th August 2023, as seen by the Navgation Camera.png|thumb|A four-meter diameter crater, as captured by the Navigation camera onboard the rover.]]

[[Astronomy:Chandrayaan-3|Chandrayaan-3]] was launched aboard an [[Engineering:LVM3|LVM3]]-M4 rocket on 14 July 2023, at 09:05 UTC from [[Astronomy:Satish Dhawan Space Centre|Satish Dhawan Space Centre]] Second Launch Pad in [[Place:Sriharikota|Sriharikota]], Andhra Pradesh, India. On 23 August 2023, as the lander approached the low point of its orbit, its four engines fired as a braking manoeuvre at {{convert|30|km|mi}} above the Moon's surface. After 11.5 minutes, the lander was 7.2 km (4.5 miles) above the surface; it maintained this altitude for about 10 seconds, then stabilized itself using eight smaller thrusters and rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position while continuing its descent.

It then used two of its four engines to slow its descent to roughly {{convert|150|m|ft}}; it hovered there for about 30 seconds and located an optimal landing spot before continuing downward and touching down at 12:32 [[UTC]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Jatan |title=Chandrayaan-3 Makes Historic Touchdown on the Moon |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chandrayaan-3-makes-historic-touchdown-on-the-moon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031414/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chandrayaan-3-makes-historic-touchdown-on-the-moon/ |archive-date=24 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-23 |title=India Is on the Moon: Lander's Success Moves Nation to Next Space Chapter |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/science/chandrayaan-3-india-moon-landing.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823172509/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/science/chandrayaan-3-india-moon-landing.html |archive-date=23 August 2023}}</ref>

After reaching the Moon's south pole, Chandrayaan-3 deployed the rover to explore the cratered surface, harnessed integrated cameras to send back videos of its environment, and started working on the research objectives planned for a two-week exploration of the Moon.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Monisha Ravisetti |date=2023-08-28 |title=India's Chandrayaan-3 takes the moon's temperature near lunar south pole for 1st time |url=https://www.space.com/chandrayaan-3-moon-temperature-lunar-south-pole-first-time |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref>

The first video of the rover, posted on 25 August 2023, showed it leaving the Vikram lander on a ramp and driving onto the Moon. ISRO posted the video in a thread on [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] that also included footage from the lander approaching its landing site and kicking up dust as it touched down on the surface. ISRO wrote afterwards that the rover's two scientific instruments had been turned on and that it had moved eight meters.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=isro |author=ISRO|number=1694945669721776263 |title=... ... and here is how the Chandrayaan-3 Rover ramped down from the Lander to the Lunar surface.|access-date=2023-08-29|language=en}}</ref>

On 26 August, the ISRO posted a new video, shot from the lander, of the rover's drive away, moving almost out of the lander's sight.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=isro |author=ISRO|number=1695378531243454712 |title='''Chandrayaan-3 Mission:'''<br/>🔍What's new here?<br/>Pragyan rover roams around Shiv Shakti Point in pursuit of lunar secrets at the South Pole 🌗!|access-date=2023-08-29 |language=en}}</ref> On 27 August, it published two pictures after the rover encountered a large [[Astronomy:Lunar craters|crater]] positioned three metres ahead of its location. However, the rover safely headed on a new path afterwards.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=isro |author=ISRO|number=1696116050843349028 |title='''Chandrayaan-3 Mission:'''<br/>On August 27, 2023, the Rover came across a 4-meter diameter crater positioned 3 meters ahead of its location.<br/>The Rover was commanded to retrace the path.<br/>It's now safely heading on a new path.|date=2023-08-28|access-date=2023-08-29|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=2023-08-28 |title=India's lunar mission beams back video and images from the Moon's south pole |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/28/23848816/india-chandrayaan-3-lunar-rover-videos-pictures |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

Later on 30 August, at 7:35 am, the rover took a picture of the Vikram lander, showing its two payloads, Chaste and ILSA, had deployed.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=isro |author=ISRO|number=1696792992718442558 |title='''Chandrayaan-3 Mission:'''<br/>Smile, please📸!<br/>Pragyan Rover clicked an image of Vikram Lander this morning.  <br/>The 'image of the mission' was taken by the Navigation Camera onboard the Rover (NavCam).<br/>NavCams for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission are developed by the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)<br/>https://isro.gov.in/LEOS.html|date=2023-08-30|access-date=2023-08-31 |language=en}}</ref> Another image was captured at 11:04 the same day, from a distance of 15{{Nbsp}}m.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=isro |author=ISRO|number=1696906614194807178 |title='''Beyond Borders, Across Moonscapes:'''<br/>'''India's Majesty knows no bounds!.''' <br/>Once more, co-traveller Pragyan captures Vikram in a Snap! <br/>This iconic snap was taken today around 11 am IST from about 15 m.<br/>The data from the NavCams is processed by SAC/ISRO, Ahmedabad.|date=2023-08-30|access-date=2023-08-31|language=en}}</ref>

On September 2, the rover finished all assignments and entered into a sleep mode in preparation for wake up on September 22, however, it was not expected to continue working.<ref>{{cite web |title="Hopeful Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover will awake": space scientist Suvendu Patnayak |url=https://aninews.in/news/national/general-news/hopeful-chandrayaan-3-lander-and-rover-will-awake-space-scientist-suvendu-patnayak20230921122252/ |website=ANI News |access-date=23 September 2023 |language=en |date=21 September 2023}}</ref> Its battery was fully charged when it went into hibernation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chandrayaan 3: Pragyan goes to sleep, may 'wake up' on next sunrise on Sept 22 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pragyan-rover-set-into-sleep-mode-battery-charged-to-wake-up-on-sept-22-chandrayaan-3-latest-news-101693672416450.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=3 September 2023 |language=en |date=2 September 2023}}</ref> However, after more than two weeks, both the rover and its lander's reactivations were delayed to the 23rd for unspecified reasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reactivation of Chandrayaan-3 lander, rover deferred by a day |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/reactivation-chandrayaan3-vikram-lander-pragyan-rover-scheduled-tomorrow-101695376476590.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=23 September 2023 |language=en |date=22 September 2023}}</ref> As of 28 September 2023, the rover still had not woken<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=Hope Fades for India’s Historic Moon Lander After It Fails to 'Wake Up' |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/hope-fades-for-india-s-historic-moon-lander-after-it-fails-to-wake-up-/7288217.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref> and no updates have been provided by ISRO since. The Pragyan rover is presumed to be dead.

==See also==
{{div col}}
* [[Astronomy:Artemis program|Artemis program]], NASA's lunar program
* [[Astronomy:Luna-Glob|Luna-Glob]], Russian lunar program
* [[Astronomy:Rover (space exploration)|Rover (space exploration)]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian space programme}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Lunar rovers}}
{{Moon spacecraft}}
{{Solar System probes}}

[[Category:Lunar rovers]]
[[Category:Missions to the Moon]]
[[Category:Indian lunar exploration programme]]

{{Sourceattribution|Pragyan (rover)}}