India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has provided new insights suggesting that water ice may be more abundant and accessible on the Moon than previously believed. This discovery holds significant implications for future lunar exploration and the potential establishment of a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.
Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. The mission’s primary objective was to explore the lunar surface and analyze its composition, particularly focusing on the presence of water ice.
The mission’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover conducted on-site temperature measurements and surface analyses. The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) instrument aboard the Vikram lander measured temperatures from the surface down to a depth of 10 centimeters, revealing highly variable conditions. Temperatures at the landing site, named ‘Shiv Shakti Point,’ ranged from 82°C during the day to -170°C at night. These findings suggest that certain lunar regions, especially those with slopes greater than 14 degrees facing away from the Sun, could maintain temperatures cool enough for near-surface ice accumulation.
The presence of accessible water ice on the Moon is crucial for future missions, as it can be utilized for life support systems, fuel production, and other essential needs. This discovery aligns with previous findings from missions like Chandrayaan-1, which detected water molecules on the lunar surface, and reinforces the Moon’s potential to support extended human exploration.
These findings have been published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, highlighting the significance of Chandrayaan-3’s contributions to lunar science. The data collected not only enhances our understanding of the Moon’s geology but also aids in identifying potential sites for future missions aiming to utilize lunar resources.
Sources:
- Chandrayaan-3 reveals there could be more water on the Moon than we thought
- Water mining on the Moon may be easier than expected, India’s Chandrayaan-3 lander finds
- Breaking the ice: Chandrayaan-3 hints at possibility of frozen water beneath Moon’s surface
