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With Chandrayaan-3 mission’s Lander ‘Vikram’ and rover ‘Pragyan’ scheduled to touch down on the Lunar surface on Wednesday, the task for the duo is cut out and here is what they will do once they reach the Earth’s only natural satellite.

The Lander has the capability to touch down at a specified lunar site and deploy the Rover which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility.

The Lander and the Rover have scientific payloads to carry out experiments on the lunar surface. The main function of the Propulsion Module (PM) was to carry the Lander Module (LM) from the launch vehicle injection to the final lunar 100 km circular polar orbit and separate the LM from the PM, which it did.

Apart from this, the PM also has one scientific payload — Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) payload to study the spectral and Polari metric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit — as a value addition.

Following are the major specifications of the lander and rover.

• The lander has a mission life of one Lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days.

• It has a mass of 1749.86 kg including Rover

• There are four scientific payloads in it

• Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) will measure the near-surface plasma (ions and electrons) density and its changes with time.

• Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) will carry out the measurements of thermal properties of the lunar surface near the polar region.

• Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) will measure seismicity around the landing site and delineate the structure of the lunar crust and mantle.

• Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) from NASA is a passive experiment to understand the dynamics of the Moon system.

• LRA will have seven sensors including Lander Hazard Detection & Avoidance Camera.

• Lander has six mechanisms, which are Lander leg, Rover Ramp (Primary and Secondary), Rover, ILSA, Rambha & Chaste Payloads, Umbilical connector Protection Mechanism, and X- Band Antenna Rover:

• Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) Propulsion Module for qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis

• LIBS will help derive the chemical composition and infer mineralogical composition to further our understanding of the lunar surface.

• Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) will determine the elemental composition (such as magnesium, Aluminium, Silicon, Potassium, Calcium, Titanium, and Iron) of lunar soil and rocks around the lunar landing site. 

Is the iQoo Neo 7 Pro the best smartphone you can buy under Rs. 40,000 in India? We discuss the company’s recently launched handset and what it has to offer on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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NASA to Launch Three Rockets in Alaska to Study Auroral Substorms’ Impact

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March 29, 2025

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NASA to Launch Three Rockets in Alaska to Study Auroral Substorms’ Impact

An important mission is set to take place in Alaska. It aims to understand how auroral substorms impact the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Three rockets will be launched within a short window to observe the movement of air and changes in composition at high altitudes. Scientists seek to determine whether the heat from auroras causes vertical movement or if waves spread the energy across a wider area. The findings could improve space weather forecasting, which is crucial for satellites and communication systems.

Study Objective and Launch Plan

According to the reports from the experiment titled Auroral Waves Excited by Substorm Onset Magnetic Events (AWESOME), the rockets will be launched from Poker Flat Research Range. The facility, located 20 miles north of Fairbanks, is managed by the University of Alaska Fairbanks under a NASA contract. The launch window is open from 24 March to April 6.

A four-stage rocket and two two-stage rockets will be used. The first two will release tracers at specific altitudes to study wind movement. The third rocket will release vapour tracers at five different altitudes. The tracers, in pink, blue and white, should be visible for up to 20 minutes. Ground cameras will capture the data under specific lighting conditions.

Scientific Goals and Observations

Mark Conde, a space physics professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, leads the project. The experiment aims to determine how auroras affect air movement. One theory suggests vertical convection plays a key role, while another proposes that acoustic-buoyancy waves cause a broader atmospheric impact. The research could reshape current understanding and refine space weather models.

A team of graduate researchers will monitor the launches from various sites in Alaska, including Utqiagvik, Kaktovik, and Toolik Lake. The results may provide better insights into how auroral events alter atmospheric conditions and influence satellite-dependent technology.

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Partial Solar Eclipse of March 2025: Satellite Images to Show Moon’s Shadow

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March 29, 2025

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Partial Solar Eclipse of March 2025: Satellite Images to Show Moon’s Shadow

A partial solar eclipse will take place on March 29, 2025. The moon will be passing in front of the sun. It will be visible from Europe, Western Africa, Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. From the ground, the sun will appear to have a portion covered by the moon. From space, weather satellites will capture the movement of the moon’s shadow across Earth. The eclipse will begin over the Atlantic Ocean, where the darkest part of the shadow will blend into the night side of Earth. In Nunavik, Quebec, the eclipse will reach its maximum, covering 94% of the sun at sunrise.

Satellite Observations of the Eclipse

According to reports, geostationary satellites will record the eclipse as the moon’s penumbral shadow moves across Earth. The Copernicus Sentinel-3, Himawari and GOES-16 satellites are expected to capture detailed images. The International Space Station may also document the event, as astronauts aboard have done in the past. The images taken will show the gradual movement of the shadow, which will appear darker in regions where the eclipse is most pronounced.

Movement of the Moon’s Shadow

As per NASA’s Scientific Visualisation Studio, the moon’s shadow will travel from west to east due to the moon’s orbital motion. It moves at a speed of 3,700 kilometres per hour, which is faster than Earth’s rotation. This causes the shadow to appear to move in the opposite direction of the sun’s apparent motion in the sky. The curvature of the Earth also affects the shadow’s speed and shape as it moves across different regions.

Viewing the Eclipse from Space

The satellites which are positioned at 36,000 kilometres above the Earth provide the best view of the event. These satellites will be capturing real-time images of the eclipse shadow as it moves. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station may also capture images of the eclipse from orbit.

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Archaeologists Discover a 3,200-Year-Old Tomb Possibly Linked to Ramesses III

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March 29, 2025

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Archaeologists Discover a 3,200-Year-Old Tomb Possibly Linked to Ramesses III

A 3,200-year-old tomb has been found in northeastern Egypt. Researchewr believe that it may have belonged to a military commander who served during the reign of Ramesses III. Tthe location of the discovery was at the site known as Tell el-Maschuta. It was confirmed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The mud-brick tomb consists of a burial chamber along with three adjoining rooms. Among the artifacts found inside, a gold ring bearing the name of Ramesses III and a collection of bronze arrowheads have drawn particular attention. Other objects recovered include an ivory box and pottery vessels with inscriptions.

Artifacts Suggest Reuse of the Tomb

According to the ministry’s statement, some of the inscriptions on the pottery refer to Horemheb, a pharaoh who ruled between 1323 and 1295 B.C. Before becoming king, he was known for his military background. It is still not clear why his name appears on the artifacts. One possibility is that burial items from an earlier period were reused. Despite this, the presence of objects linked to Ramesses III has led experts to believe that the tomb was used during his reign, which lasted from around 1184 to 1153 B.C.

Experts Call for More Analysis

Speaking to Live Science, Anthony Spalinger, professor emeritus at the University of Auckland, said that further study of the inscriptions is necessary to have more details about the individual buried there. Egyptologist David Warburton from Northeast Normal University in China also pointed out that without titles in the inscriptions, it is difficult to confirm whether the person was a military commander. Meanwhile, Aidan Dodson, an Egyptology professor at the University of Bristol, suggested that the tomb may have been built during Horemheb’s reign and later reused during the time of Ramesses III and the Twenty-second Dynasty.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


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