Source: Adobe Firefly- AI-Generated Image– A Giant Leap for India: Chandrayaan-3’s Triumphant Landing
Get to know more about the most recent moon mission launched by India. Read more about discoveries which changed the way scientists used to think about the moon.
How many people have read or heard about stories of the moon when they were younger? I am guessing most of the readers will answer with a yes. I am also part of the group of people who have grown up listening to stories about supernatural entities and themes.
The moon is the earth’s companion. These two have been together ever since some asteroid in space collided with earth to give birth to a new chunk. This was our moon which has been revolving loyally around our planet up till now. How much do we know about our closest relative in space?
Up until recently, we could have answered with a 25% or at least a 20%. But the most recent discoveries have left the scientist community rattled. A lot of completely new information has come to our notice because of India’s Chandra Yaan mission. And it turns out, our understanding was incomplete. We have much to explore even now.
What is the Chandra Yaan mission?
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) rolled out its Indian Lunar Exploration Programme, also known as the Chandra Yaan Programme, in 2003. It’s an ongoing mission which has recently garnered a lot of international attention after its moon rovers made significant discoveries.
A series of 5 missions, the Programme involves sending lunar probes which use infrared, X-ray, and visible light rays to detect and study the lunar terrain, composition, and atmosphere. The most recent probe they sent was the Chandra Yaan 3. It created history- it was the first ever lunar mission to land on the south pole of the moon! It also joined the elite group of countries which have successfully achieved a soft landing on the moon.
Did the south pole help us out? How is it different from the north pole of the moon? Let’s find out.
Source: Wikipedia – Maps obtained from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter., CC BY-SA 3.0
Sharp drops in temperature
After landing, the lander and the rover – Vikram and Pragyaan respectively- were released. They spent around 10 days in the region and gathered data to transit back to ISRO for further analysis.
The first discovery made by the probe was regarding the temperature gradient of the moon’s atmosphere and terrain. It was discovered that while the temperature was almost 60 degrees Celsius on the surface, the temperature dropped to -10 degrees Celsius below the ground at 80 mm.
This is important because it shows that the moon’s soil is an excellent insulator. This could indicate the presence of water ice just below the lunar surface.
Moonquakes
Source: Wikimedia- NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University
The Vikram Lander had a lot to do once it landed on the moon. The whole scientific community was anxious to see what else it could find. And it didn’t disappoint.
Other than the discoveries listed in this article, the probe also detected Moonquakes.
Let us try to understand why this is such a huge deal.
The lander reported back to ISRO when it felt completely naturally caused vibrations emanating from the surface of the moon. And this had a big magnitude. So, scientists speculated two things. Either there was some meteorite or asteroid causing this. Or this was seismic and natural which could help us learn more about what’s under the surface of the Moon.
Sulphur
Source: Flickr-37740552666- Moon’s Hidden Treasure: Sulphur Discovery Sparks New Space Race
Multiple probes have gone and conducted studies on the chemical composition of the moon. We have found traces of elements like calcium, iron, titanium, silicon, and aluminium. But the most important thing we found only now through the Chandra Yaan 3 is Sulphur.
We knew we could find Sulphur on the moon since the 70s, but finding it in the lunar surface itself and not in mineral or crystal form is a big thing.
This means two things for us. First is that we can study about the evolution of lunar geography because Sulphur indicates the presence of active volcanoes. Secondly, when mixed with soil, Sulphur acts as a very good fertilizer. This could help us grow plants if we ever decide to live on the moon.
This is just the beginning. Space organizations all over the globe are gearing up to join India in this race to study the moon’s south pole. A lot has been studied regarding the north pole. But these most recent discoveries prove that the south pole is a new field to study all together. More and more research will only take us to an understanding we hadn’t achieved before!
Resources
What is the Chandra Yaan mission?
- Pandey, G. (2023, August 23). Chandrayaan-3: India makes historic landing near Moon’s south pole. Bbc.com; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66594520
- Chandrayaan-1 / Moon Impact Probe – NASA Science. (2017, December 5). Nasa.gov. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/chandrayaan-1 Chandrayaan | Missions, Discoveries, & Facts | Britannica. (2024). In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/Chandrayaan
Sharp drops in temperature
- Pandey, G. (2023, September 18). Chandrayaan-3: How important are India’s Moon mission findings? Bbc.com; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66808808
- MSN. (2024). Msn.com. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/chandrayaan-3-mission-full-list-of-discoveries-so-far-by-pragyan-rover/ar-AA1fYWWu
Moonquakes
- Pandey, G. (2023, September 18). Chandrayaan-3: How important are India’s Moon mission findings? Bbc.com; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66808808
- BUSINESSTODAY. (2023, September 18). Chandrayaan-3: Top discoveries made by Vikram lander and Pragyan rover till now. Businesstoday.in; BUSINESS TODAY. https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/chandrayaan-3-top-discoveries-made-by-vikram-lander-and-pragyan-rover-till-now-63707-18-09-2023
Sulphur
- Pandey, G. (2023, September 18). Chandrayaan-3: How important are India’s Moon mission findings? Bbc.com; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66808808
MSN. (2024). Msn.com. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/chandrayaan-3-mission-full-list-of-discoveries-so-far-by-pragyan-rover/ar-AA1fYWWu
