The Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon on August 23, 2023.

India's Moon Landing: What Happens After 14 Days?

The Pragyan rover began its exploration of the Moon’s surface on Thursday (August 24) as India made history as the first country to land a spacecraft near the Moon’s south pole. On Wednesday, the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft landed on the lunar surface after taking off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh last July 14. The spacecraft carries the Pragyan rover, which “ramped down” and took a “walk on the moon”, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday. Watch the live coverage here: For the next 14 days, the six-wheeled rover will study the surface of the moon for chemicals, mineral composition and elements including magnesium, silicon, potassium, calcium and iron. It will also assist in understanding the Moon's atmosphere, and day and night cycles. According to reports, the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, which can only work in the sun, may become inactive on the Moon for 14 days after September 6, when the Moon will have 14-days of night. However, ISRO scientists have not ruled out the possibility of the duo coming back to life when the sun rises again. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indians and space scientists for the successful Moon landing. “India will remember this day forever,” Modi said on Wednesday. India is now the first country in the world to make a soft landing near the Moon's South Pole. It is also the fourth country to make a soft landing on the Moon after Russia, US and China. ICA/Expat Media
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