Watch: the Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 explores the lunar terrain near the Shiv Shakti location

ISRO has released a new video showcasing the Pragyan rover’s maneuvers across the lunar landscape. The footage captures the rover’s traversal around the Shiv Shakti landmark situated at the South Pole of the Moon.

Several days following its successful landing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has presented another captivating glimpse of its Chandrayaan-3 mission. This presentation showcases the Pragyan rover’s agile movements across the lunar landscape. In a 40-second video unveiled on Saturday, the rover adeptly navigates its way around the Shiv Shakti point, a prominent feature located at the South Pole of the Moon.

The video, which was shared on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), captures the Pragyan rover in dynamic motion, traversing the Moon’s surface while its accompanying lander remains in close proximity. To witness the video, you can follow this link: [Insert video link here]

Moreover, the Lander Imager Camera managed to capture an image of the Moon just moments before touchdown, providing an intriguing perspective of the event. This image can be seen in the attached tweet:

Mere one day prior to this event, ISRO had unveiled a video clip showcasing the rover’s descent from the lander to the lunar surface. The space agency also verified that the rover had successfully traveled a noteworthy distance of eight meters across the Moon’s terrain. During this traverse, both of its scientific experiments were initiated and are operating as originally intended.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru to engage with the dedicated scientists responsible for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. During his address to the ISRO team, PM Modi unveiled the name of the spacecraft’s landing site. He revealed that the location where Chandrayaan-3 made contact with the lunar surface will now be recognized as the ‘Shiv Shakti’ point.

PM Modi underscored the symbolism embedded in the term ‘Shiv’, representing resolutions for humanity’s betterment, while ‘Shakti’ embodies the strength to realize these resolutions. He emphasized that the Moon’s Shiv Shakti Point establishes a profound connection from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari.

Emphasizing the significance of persistence, the Prime Minister proclaimed that the site where Chandrayaan-2 had made its mark will be designated as ‘Tiranga’. He highlighted that this spot will serve as an everlasting wellspring of inspiration for all national endeavors, serving as a reminder that setbacks are not conclusive. He reaffirmed, “Success is a certainty where there is unwavering determination.”

The culmination of the Chandrayaan-3 mission was celebrated on Wednesday, August 23, as the spacecraft gracefully touched down on the uncharted lunar South Pole. This extraordinary achievement etched India’s name as the pioneer in reaching this unexplored lunar region, making it the fourth country to accomplish a triumphant lunar landing, following the footsteps of the Soviet Union, United States, and China.

At precisely 6:04 PM on August 23, 2023, the lander module of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, comprising the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover, executed a gentle landing on the moon’s southern polar expanse, marking a historic milestone.