The Indian lunar rover Pragyan has transmitted its first data from the Moon, a result that surprised scientists and drew attention on ISRO’s social channels, including X.
The Lunokhod carries a temperature sensor capable of measuring soil temperatures down to a depth of 10 cm. This capability will help scientists map the Moon’s surface temperature dynamics and, for the first time, build a temperature profile of the Moon’s south pole.
ISRO staff expressed surprise at the initial findings. They expected surface temperatures to fall within a moderate range, but measurements showed surface temperatures soaring to about +70°C, well above prior expectations. This information comes from ISRO’s updates via the agency’s communications channels.
Earlier statements noted that Pragyan, delivered to the Moon by the Vikram lander as part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, became the first rover to explore the lunar surface during this mission.
In India, this event marked another milestone in lunar exploration, reflecting ongoing advances in space technology and science-driven discoveries about our planetary neighbor.