India’s Lunar Rover Begins 14-Day Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced its moon rover has begun its lunar mission in earnest, having successfully disembarked and taken its first “walk” on the moon.

The 57-pound rover, called Pragyaan (Sanskrit for wisdom), "ramped down" from the lander and "India took a walk on the Moon!" according to the ISRO announcement on X (previously Twitter).

The rover also successfully established a communications link with the ISRO mission operation complex back on Earth. ISRO released images taken by the lander during its descent.

Next, Pragyaan will have to demonstrate its capabilities to navigate over the moon’s terrain before it begins surveying the region and conducting tests on its mineral composition.

Sent to explore the moon’s south pole, the rover is equipped with specialist instruments to allow it to test the soil’s chemical composition, looking for evidence of precious minerals, water and other materials that could support human life on the moon’s surface. 

Specifically, Pragyaan is fitted with the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer and the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope to break down and identify the material composition of the moon’s terrain.

India became the first nation to ever land on the moon’s south pole earlier this week and is only the fourth country to have successfully landed on the moon.

Related:India Lunar Probe Successfully Lands on Moon’s South Pole, a World First

India’s president Droupadi Murmu celebrated the milestone on X.