Smile please: Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan Rover clicks images of Vikram Lander

In a remarkable development, the Pragyan Rover of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission has captured a captivating image of the Vikram Lander on the lunar surface. The Pragyan Rover's onboard Navigation Camera (NavCam) played a pivotal role in capturing this extraordinary image, which has now become a testament to the advancements made in space technology. It's worth noting that the NavCams used for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission were meticulously designed and developed by the esteemed Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS).

According to ISRO, with precision and accuracy, the NavCam of the Pragyan Rover managed to capture not just one, but two images of the Vikram Lander.

The photographs captured by the Pragyan Rover of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission have unveiled a captivating sight – the Vikram Lander standing proudly on its legs, with the gentle touch of sunlight casting its distinctive shadow on the lunar terrain. These images provide a remarkable visual perspective of the lunar scene, offering a glimpse into the scientific instruments that accompany the lander on its journey of exploration.

A particularly intriguing detail emerges as the lens captures the Vikram Lander's presence against the lunar backdrop. In one of the images, the payloads known as Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical Experiment (ChaSTE) and the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) make their appearance, adding depth and significance to the photograph.

The ChaSTE payload is a cornerstone of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission, entrusted with the critical task of conducting detailed measurements of the thermal properties of the lunar surface, particularly in the polar regions.

On the other hand, the ILSA serves as a pioneering effort to study seismic activity on the lunar surface. This payload has been meticulously engineered to detect and analyze seismic vibrations or moonquakes that occur within the lunar crust.