Chandrayaan-3’s lander Vikram makes communication link with Chandrayaan-2 in Moon orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday said a two-way communication has been established between Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander module Vikram which is scheduled land on the surface of the Moon on August 23.

Chandrayaan-2 was already in orbit around the Moon and its lander had crashed on the Moon at the last minute while making its final landing. It was after this failure that Chandrayaan-3 has been launched.

“‘Welcome, buddy!’ Ch-2 orbiter formally welcomed Ch-3 LM (lander module). Two-way communication between the two is established. MOX (Mission Operations Complex) has now more routes to reach the LM,” ISRO posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the moon on August 23, 2023, around 18:04 IST. The spacecraft is now just two-day away from its final destination, the Moon’s south pole.

Live actions will be available on the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, Facebook, and public broadcaster DD National TV from 17:27 IST on Aug 23, 2023.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission’s lander is named after Vikram Sarabhai (1919–1971), who is regarded as the father of the Indian space programme.

The success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission would make India only the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to land a spacecraft on the Moon.

Upon landing, the lander named ‘Vikram’ will deploy its four scientific payloads to study the moon’s surface temperature and subterranean characteristics.

The 6-wheeled Rover ‘Pragyan’ will come out to explore the moon, using chemical tests, for 14 days. The Rover is equipped with multiple cameras that will send back images to earth. It is backed by a solar panel to charge its battery.