The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is gearing up for the next big mission to the Moon after the historic success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The Chandrayaan-4 mission will bring rocks and soil from the lunar surface to be studied in India for the first time.
Officials at the Space Applications Centre have revealed the fourth Chandrayaan mission will last on the Moon for a total of one lunar day. While it seems very short, one lunar day translates to 14 Earth days.
A lunar day lasts about 14 Earth days because the moon takes roughly 29.5 Earth days to complete one full rotation on its axis. During this time, the moon is illuminated by sunlight.
During the lunar day, the portion of the moon facing the sun experiences intense heat, with surface temperatures reaching as high as 127 degrees Celsius. This is because the moon has no atmosphere to distribute heat or provide insulation.
Officials explained that the limited timeframe for the mission is due to the harsh conditions on the lunar surface, where extreme temperature variations and lack of sunlight during the lunar night pose significant challenges for long-term operations.
It is to be noted that the Chandrayaan-3 was also designed to survive one lunar day and it functioned perfectly in the illuminated condition. Following the onset of the night, Vikram has been put into sleep mode and has not been able to wake up.
This approach is a first for Isro and highlights the mission's ambitious nature.
The mission's primary objective is to collect lunar samples and bring them back to Earth for detailed scientific analysis. If successful, India will become the fourth nation to achieve this feat, following the United States, Russia, and China.
Chandrayaan-4 will land close to Chandrayaan-3's Shiva Shakti Point on the Moon near the lunar south pole.
