Chandrayaan 3 Discoveries:

Historic Landing and Mission Success: On August 23, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone by successfully landing Chandrayaan 3 discoveries on the lunar surface. India joined an elite club of nations, including the United States, Russia, and China, that have achieved successful lunar landings. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that India became the first country to land on the lunar south pole.

Exploration and Observations: On August 24th, the Vikram Lander deployed the Pragyan Rover, which embarked on a mission to explore the lunar terrain. Over the next 12 days, from August 24th to September 4th, both the Vikram Lander and the Pragyan Rover conducted extensive observations of the moon’s surface. Their exploration efforts unveiled previously unknown facts about the lunar environment, promising valuable insights for future lunar research and missions.

Sleep Mode and Future Exploration: Following their observations, both the lander and rover were safely parked and placed into a “Sleep Mode.” However, it’s expected that they will awaken for further exploration on the lunar surface. This reactivation is scheduled for September 22nd, coinciding with the next lunar morning.

Chandrayaan 3 Discoveries:

1. Temperature Variations on the Lunar Surface: On August 27, 2023, the CHASTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) payload on the Vikram Lander conducted its first temperature measurements. It was designed to analyze the temperature of the lunar surface’s upper soil layer, providing insights into the moon’s thermal behavior. CHASTE’s sensors recorded a chilling -60°C on the lunar surface’s topsoil, revealing that the temperature changed by 10°C when descending just 1 cm beneath the lunar soil. At a depth of 8 cm, the temperature reached -10°C.

2. Confirmation of Sulphur’s Presence: One of Chandrayan 3’s most groundbreaking discoveries was the confirmation of Sulphur’s presence on the lunar surface. On August 28th, the LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Instrument) provided the first-ever in-situ measurements of the elemental composition of the moon’s surface. This instrument analyzed the composition of lunar soils and rocks using high-energy laser pulses. While previous missions by Russia and America had detected Sulphur presence in the 1970s, this was the first in-situ measurement conducted directly on the lunar surface.

3. Presence of Oxygen and Other Elements: Chandrayaan 3 made noteworthy findings regarding the presence of essential elements on the lunar surface. While NASA had previously claimed discoveries of Titanium and Uranium, Chandrayaan 3’s analysis identified the presence of Oxygen, Silicon, Manganese, Aluminium, Calcium, and Iron. The revelation of oxygen on the moon, despite its lack of atmosphere, holds promise for future extraction and utilization, given the high concentration found within the lunar soil.

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4. RAMBHA’s Groundbreaking Discovery: ISRO reported a groundbreaking discovery made by the Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA). This instrument conducted the first-ever in-situ measurement of the surface-bound lunar plasma environment over the south pole region, revealing electron densities ranging between 5 million to 30 million electrons per cubic meter.

5. Moonquake Detection: On August 31st, ISRO shared findings from the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activities (ILSA), which recorded a minor seismic activity lasting for 4 seconds on the lunar surface. This activity hints at the possibility of minor moonquakes.

These Chandrayaan 3 discoveries mark a significant step forward in lunar exploration and our understanding of Earth’s celestial neighbor.

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