In a significant milestone for the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the Vikram lander has successfully completed a hop experiment, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). During the experiment, the lander fired its engines on command, elevating itself by approximately 40 cm and safely landing just 30–40 cm away from its initial position. This achievement is crucial for future lunar missions, including sample return missions and potential human missions to the moon.
The successful hop experiment demonstrated the capabilities of the Vikram lander module, which also carries the rover Pragyan. The rover successfully soft-landed on the moon’s surface on August 23, 2023. Since then, it has made remarkable progress, traveling over 100 meters away from the lander. Additionally, scientific instruments on board Vikram have detected plasma near the lunar surface and confirmed the presence of sulfur in the moon’s south polar region.
ISRO reported that Pragyan had completed its assigned tasks and was safely parked in sleep mode, with its battery fully charged and solar panels oriented to receive sunlight during the next lunar sunrise expected on September 22. This achievement marks a significant step forward in India’s lunar exploration efforts.