Bengaluru, June 13: India is developing advanced technology that could enable future lunar landers to survive on the Moon for up to 200 days, a major leap from the 14-day operational lifespan achieved by the Chandrayaan-3 mission, according to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V. Narayanan.
Speaking in Bengaluru on Saturday, Narayanan said ISRO, in collaboration with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is working to address one of the biggest challenges in lunar exploration—surviving the harsh and prolonged lunar night.
The research focuses on developing advanced artificial heating systems capable of protecting spacecraft components from the extremely low temperatures that prevail on the Moon after sunset.
India made history on August 23, 2023, when Chandrayaan-3 Mission successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole, making India the first nation to achieve such a feat. However, the Vikram lander remained operational for only one lunar day, equivalent to about 14 Earth days, as it relied entirely on solar power.
Once lunar night set in, the absence of sunlight and drastic temperature drops rendered the spacecraft’s electronic systems inoperable.
Narayanan said that if the artificial heating technology proves successful, future lunar landers could remain functional for 100 to 200 days, enabling them to survive multiple lunar day-night cycles.
The breakthrough is expected to significantly strengthen India’s lunar exploration capabilities by allowing longer scientific experiments, increased data collection, and sustained robotic operations on the lunar surface. It could also play a key role in supporting future human missions to the Moon and advancing India’s long-term goal of establishing a sustained presence on the lunar surface.
India Needs More Than 200 Satellites in Three Years
Narayanan also highlighted India’s growing space requirements, stating that the country would need to launch more than 200 satellites over the next three years to meet national and commercial demands.
Speaking at the 10th Industry Connect event organized by IN-SPACe in Ahmedabad, he noted that India currently has 56 satellites in orbit but requires a much larger constellation to support future needs.
He emphasized that ISRO alone cannot meet this demand and called for greater participation from private industry, start-ups, and academic institutions.
“There are immense opportunities in the space sector, and the entire ecosystem must work together to achieve India’s ambitious space goals,” Narayanan said.
The developments underscore India’s expanding ambitions in space exploration, satellite services, and future lunar missions, positioning the country as an increasingly significant player in the global space sector.
