Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan has informed that they have collaborated with the Department of Atomic Energy to develop an advanced artificial heating system that can protect lunar lander from the freezing weather of the Moon.
Addressing the CSIR-RISE Conclave in Bengaluru, ISRO chief explained that Chandrayaan 3 lander Vikram fuelled by solar energy, operated only for 14 days on Moon. ISRO will now work with the Atomic Energy Department to develop a lunar lander that can survive on the Moon for up to 200 days. This lander with artificial heaters can survive harsh weather conditions on the Moon. He added that this will help long-duration lunar exploration in future missions.
The lunar days and nights last about 14 Earth days each, and heat reaches 121 celsius and temperature dips to minus 129 celsius at night. Speaking further about research partnerships, V Narayanan disclosed that ISRO and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR have identified 40 areas of technological cooperation and 17 among them have already been approved for implementation in the first phase.
Similar research partnerships are also forged with the Department of Science and Technology and others in the private sector to develop space medicines for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. ISRO also worked with the Department of Biotechnology on microgravity experiments that were carried out by Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla during the Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station.
