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Chandrayaan-3 Mission Status (as of January 19, 2026)
Table of Contents
The Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed on the moon on August 23, 2023, and completed its objectives, but is no longer operational as of November 2023. As of January 19, 2026, there have been no reports of reactivation or further missions building directly upon Chandrayaan-3’s hardware; however, data analysis continues and informs the progress of future lunar exploration efforts.
Mission Objectives and Achievements
Chandrayaan-3 aimed to demonstrate a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface, and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments. The mission successfully achieved both goals, deploying the Pragyan rover to explore the south polar region of the Moon.
Specifically, the mission demonstrated the following:
- Soft Landing: Achieved a controlled descent and landing near the lunar south pole. ISRO Landing Page
- Rover Deployment: Successfully deployed the Pragyan rover for surface exploration. ISRO Pragyan Rover Page
- Scientific Experiments: Conducted experiments to analyze the lunar surface composition, thermal properties, and seismic activity.ISRO Chandrayaan-3 payloads
Operational Status and End of Mission
The lander and rover were designed for a single lunar day of operation (approximately 14 Earth days). Communication with both the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover was lost in September 2023 as lunar night fell and sunlight was no longer available to power the systems.The Hindu – Lander and Rover Sleep Mode
Attempts to re-establish communication during subsequent lunar days were unsuccessful. ISRO officially declared the mission concluded in November 2023. ISRO Mission Updates
Follow-on Missions and Future Plans
While Chandrayaan-3 is no longer operational, the data collected continues to be analyzed by scientists. ISRO is actively planning future lunar missions, including Chandrayaan-4, a collaborative mission with Japan (JAXA). ISRO Chandrayaan-4 Page
Chandrayaan-4 is planned to be a sample return mission, aiming to collect lunar samples and bring them back to Earth for detailed analysis. The mission is currently scheduled for launch in 2027, but this is subject to change. JAXA Press Release – Lunar Polar Exploration Mission
Key organizations involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission include:
- Indian space Research Organisation (ISRO): The primary agency responsible for the mission. ISRO Official Website
- Government of India: Provided funding and policy support for the mission. Prime Minister of india official Website
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency): Collaborating with ISRO on future lunar missions, including Chandrayaan-4.
