--- title: "India’s Moon Lander Just Took Off Again and Landed in a Different Place" description: "After making it safely to the lunar surface last month, India's Vikram Moon lander just pulled off its next daring stunt." date: "2023-09-06" modified: "2023-09-06" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/india-moon-lander-took-off-again-landed" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "chandrayaan-3" - "india" - "lunar lander" - "moon" - "the digest" --- # India’s Moon Lander Just Took Off Again and Landed in a Different Place ![After making it safely to the lunar surface last month, India's Vikram Moon lander just pulled off its next daring stunt.]() *\Image: ISRO\* ## Second Landing After safely landing on the lunar surface last month, India's Vikram Moon lander just pulled off its next daring stunt. The lander fired up its engines, causing it to float 15 inches above the lunar surface, then moved laterally. Moments later it landed again, roughly 11 to 15 inches away from where it was sitting previously. A clip [shared by the Indian Space Research Organization]() shows the view from the lander as the cratered lunar surface goes up in a cloud of dust. Seconds later, the lander's view clears up again, showing a slightly altered landing spot. "Vikram soft-landed on the Moon again!" the ISRO's update reads. It's an impressive feat that again demonstrates India's growing off-world prowess. "All systems performed nominally and are healthy," the ISRO wrote. https://twitter.com/isro/status/1698570774385205621 ## Goodnight Moon Shortly after landing on the lunar surface two weeks ago, Vikram [released a smaller, six-wheeled rover]() dubbed Pragyaan, which has been exploring the surrounding area for [signs of water ice]() since. Vikram's successful flight was performed shortly before it and its rover cousin were [scheduled to take a prolonged nap](). Early Monday morning, the lander entered sleep mode. "Vikram will fall asleep next to Pragyan once the solar power is depleted and the battery is drained," the ISRO [tweeted]() on Monday. "Hoping for their awakening, around September 22, 2023." The stakes are pretty high. If Vikram fails to get up from its slumber, it could be game over for the mission. "Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments!" the ISRO [tweeted]() over the weekend. "Else, it will forever stay there as India's lunar ambassador." **More on the lander:** *[India's Moon Rover Has Gone to Sleep]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()