For its ‘s indomitable spirit in advancing lunar exploration & contributing to understanding celestial mysteries and in celebration the first soft landing of Chandrayaan 3, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been awarded Leif Erikson Lunar Prize. This is the first time that ISRO has received this award.
It is for the first soft landing of a spacecraft near the Lunar South Pole and ISRO’s indomitable spirit in advancing lunar exploration.
What is the Leif Erikson Award?
Based on the information available in the public domain, this award is also known as the Exploration Awards, and are awarded annually by the Exploration Museum for achievements in exploration and for work in the field of exploration history.
Credit: India in Iceland on X
Awarded annually in Iceland they are in three categories including: the Leif Erikson Award to an explorer for a lifetime achievement in exploration; Leif Erikson Young Explorer Award to an explorer under the age of 35 for achievements in exploration; and the Leif Erikson Exploration History Award – this is presented to a person or an organization that has worked to promote and preserve exploration history, or to educate about exploration, science and environment issues.
What were the achievements of Chandrayaan 3?
Financial Express Online has reported previously about the successful soft-landing of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission which made India the first country to land near the south pole on the Moon.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission embarked on a lunar exploration journey, featuring the dynamic duo of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover, each playing a pivotal role in conducting groundbreaking experiments on the Moon’s intriguing surface.
Following an active lunar day lasting 14 Earth days, both the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover entered a dormant phase as the Moon included its extended night.
Chandrayaan-3, despite its uncertainties, has etched its indelible mark on lunar exploration, unravelling the mysteries settled within the Moon’s enigmatic south pole region. The Vikram lander, a beacon of technological prowess, delved into the Moon’s ionosphere with precision, methodically measuring electron densities ranging from 5 million to 30 million per cubic meter. This endeavour not only showcased the mission’s technical finesse but also cast a light on the path towards developing communication technology tailored for lunar environments.
Equipped with a seismograph, the Vikram lander left its seismic footprint on lunar science by recording a brief yet impactful seismic event, lasting approximately four seconds. Scientists speculate that this seismic activity might be attributed to a minor “moonquake” or the aftermath of a small meteorite impact, providing a rare glimpse into the Moon’s dynamic geological activities.
Venturing beneath the lunar surface, Vikram’s drilling expedition unveiled temperature anomalies. The temperatures detected 8 centimeters beneath the surface presented a stark contrast of 60 degrees Celsius compared to surface temperatures, adding intricate layers to our understanding of the Moon’s thermal dynamics.
Pragyan, the hardworking rover on this lunar odyssey, contributed significantly to the mission’s success. It identified the presence of Sulphur on the lunar surface within the south pole region, and its instruments detected a symphony of elements—aluminium, silicon, calcium, and iron. These findings are vital puzzle pieces in deciphering the complex composition of the Moon, advancing our understanding of lunar geochemistry.
In a testament to Chandrayaan-3’s mobility, the Pragyan rover showcased remarkable agility, covering a substantial distance of over 100 meters in just 10 days. Cruising at a steady pace of 1 centimeter per second, Pragyan navigated diverse lunar terrains, unveiling the Moon’s hidden gradations.
Before entering its lunar dormancy, the Vikram lander executed a mesmerizing “hop experiment.” Commanded to fire its engines, Vikram ascended by about 40 centimeters and gracefully landed at a distance of 30-40 centimeters. ISRO envisions this experiment as a precursor to future missions, hinting at the spacecraft’s potential role in retrieving lunar samples for Earth-bound analysis.
Chandrayaan-3, with its trailblazing achievements, stands as a beacon of India’s prowess in space exploration, illuminating the lunar landscape and laying the foundation for future endeavours that will undoubtedly continue to unravel the Moon’s mysteries.