Chandrayaan-3 mission update: ISRO shares video clip showing Pragyan rover moving on Moon surface

Chandrayaan-3 Mission Update: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released a video clip on Saturday showing the Pragyan rover moving around on the surface of the Moon. The space agency took to Twitter to share the part of the footage containing yet another proud moment for the country, days after the rover exited the spacecraft to begin exploring the surface of the south pole of Earth's natural satellite.

Here's what the Pragyan rover looks like moving on the surface of the Moon: 

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
What's new here?

Pragyan rover roams around Shiv Shakti Point in pursuit of lunar secrets at the South Pole ! pic.twitter.com/1g5gQsgrjM

— ISRO (@isro) August 26, 2023

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bengaluru to meet and congratulate ISRO scientists. After arriving at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) airport, PM Modi, while addressing thousands of people gathered to welcome him, said that every individual who believes in science and the future not just in India but also in the world is celebrating the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission with the same spirit.

Read more on PM Modi's meeting with ISRO scientists in Bengaluru

Interacting with our @isro scientists in Bengaluru. The success of Chandrayaan-3 mission is an extraordinary moment in the history of India's space programme. https://t.co/PHUY3DQuzb

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2023

The Prime Minister congratulated "each one of us" and "was "emotional about this historic event", ISRO Chairman S Somanath said.

"We are very happy to know the naming of the sites 'Tiranga' and 'Shiv Shakti'," he said. 

Hon'ble PM @narendramodi came to control centre today to congratulate each one of us He was emotional about this historic event. We are very happy to know the naming of the sites 'Tiranga' and 'Shiv Shakti': S Somanath, Chairman, @isro #Chandrayaan3 #ShivShakti #TirangaPoint pic.twitter.com/x9PPUKeMLF

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) August 26, 2023

In an earlier update, on Thursday, the ISRO said that all systems were normal as the rover exited the spacecraft. The ISRO chief said the lander and the rover were in good condition, and both were "working very well" but the experiments were yet to start. "Rover mobility operations have commenced," he said.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
All activities are on schedule.
All systems are normal.

Lander Module payloads ILSA, RAMBHA and ChaSTE are turned ON today.

Rover mobility operations have commenced.

SHAPE payload on the Propulsion Module was turned ON on Sunday.

— ISRO (@isro) August 24, 2023

On Wednesday, the ISRO successfully landed its Chandrayaan-3 mission safely on the unexplored south pole of the Moon.    

Chandrayaan-3: What is Pragyan and what does it do?

The Pragyan rover, carried to the Moon surface within the Vikram lander module of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, is fitted with two instruments to conduct element and chemical composition experiments, and a robotic path planning exercise for future exploration.

The rover is expected to remain functional for two weeks.

(With inputs from agencies)