Vikram lander 'hops' on the Moon, fires engines to go up, land again | Video

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that its Vikram Lander, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, has exceeded its mission objectives by successfully conducting a hop experiment on the lunar surface.

The lander fired its engines on command, elevated itself by approximately 40 cm, and landed safely at a distance of 30 to 40 cm away.

This significant achievement is a major boost for future sample return missions and potential human expeditions to the moon. The successful execution of the hop experiment demonstrates the lander's ability to move and navigate the lunar terrain, a critical capability for future exploratory missions.

WATCH VIKRAM'S MOON HOP HERE

The Vikram Lander, which touched down on the moon's surface on August 23, carries four payloads designed to study various aspects of the lunar environment. These include RAMBHA, which measures near-surface plasma density; ChaSTE, which gauges the thermal properties of lunar soil; ILSA, which monitors seismic activity around the landing site; and LRA, which helps understand the dynamics of the lunar system.

Following the hop experiment, all systems on the Vikram Lander were reported to be performing nominally and in good health. The deployed Ramp, ChaSTE, and ILSA were folded back and successfully redeployed after the experiment, further demonstrating the lander's operational capabilities.

The success of the Vikram Lander's hop experiment marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration journey.

It not only showcases the country's technological prowess but also paves the way for more ambitious lunar missions in the future. As ISRO continues to analyze the valuable data relayed back from the Vikram Lander, the world eagerly awaits more breakthroughs from this pioneering lunar mission.