Pragyan is a six-wheeled robotic rover that is part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. It is named after the Sanskrit word for “wisdom”. The rover is designed to explore the lunar surface and collect data on its composition, mineral properties, and history.
The main features of Pragyan include:
- A mass of 26 kilograms.
- A size of 0.9 meters (3 feet) by 0.75 meters (2.5 feet) by 0.85 meters (2.8 feet).
- A power supply of 50 watts from solar panels.
- A maximum speed of 1 centimeter per second.
- A mission duration of 14 days.
- Two payloads:
- An Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) to analyze the elemental composition of the lunar surface.
- A Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument to identify the chemical composition of lunar rocks and soil.
Pragyan is expected to be deployed from the Vikram lander after it has soft-landed on the lunar surface. The rover will then explore the area around the landing site, collecting data and sending it back to Earth. The rover is expected to travel a distance of up to half a kilometer during its mission.
The Pragyan rover is a key part of the Chandrayaan-3 mis
sion. It will help scientists to learn more about the lunar surface and its potential for future human exploration.
Here are some of the scientific objectives of Pragyan:
- To study the elemental composition of the lunar surface.
- To identify the chemical composition of lunar rocks and soil.
- To investigate the history of the lunar surface.
- To search for water ice on the lunar surface.
- To assess the potential for future human exploration of the Moon.
