Pragyaan rover will carry out various tests on lunar surface

A few hours after Chandrayaan-2's landing module Vikram touches down on the moon early Saturday, Rover 'Pragyaan' will emerge from the lander and roll out onto the lunar surface.

The touchdown of 'Vikram' is scheduled between 1.30 am and 2.30 am, followed by the rollout of rover between 5.30 am and 6.30 am. In a short video, Isro explained about Pragyaan. The cubical vehicle, exclusively designed for travelling on the Moon, is fitted with a solar panel.

Two navigation cameras, which could be called as its left and right eye, are mounted on top of it besides an Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, receive and transmit antenna and rocker bogie assembly.

Hours after the touchdown Vikrams door will open creating a slope for the matchbox shaped rover with six-wheels to slide and move around the lunar surface to carry out various investigations.

Soon after rolling on the moon soil, Pragyaan's battery will be activated to release its solar panel. The scans of the rover will be relayed to Vikram and then earth and it will be processed at mission control for path planning.