Chandrayaan-3 from India has the potential to achieve a historic milestone by being the initial spacecraft to touch down on the southern polar region of the Moon on August 23rd.
A few days after Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft lost control and crashed into the Moon, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is poised to achieve a gentle landing at the lunar south pole this Wednesday evening. A successful landing would mark India’s Chandrayaan-3 as the first spacecraft to touch down on the Moon’s southern polar region. Despite the unfortunate crash of the Luna-25 craft, which had also aimed for a south pole landing, the significance of such missions in the pursuit of a Moon colony remains a topic of interest for India and other nations.
What was the process through which scientists identified water on the Moon? & Objective of Chandrayaan-3
Chandrayaan-3’s primary objective is to locate an optimal site for a soft landing of its Vikram lander on the Moon’s complex terrain. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) consistently strives for innovation with each mission. The mission’s potential outcomes include the discovery of significant water resources in the southern lunar hemisphere. The presence of deep, perpetually shaded areas due to large craters, coupled with the ongoing impacts of comets and asteroids, leads to the accumulation of ice and volatile particles on the Moon’s surface over the years.
The anticipation is that substantial water ice deposits exist in these shadowed regions. Furthermore, the unique topography of the Moon offers possibilities for power generation. The contrast between extensive shadowed areas and well-illuminated peaks provides a favorable environment for future human settlement—a concept that China has already started contemplating for around 2030. In addition to water, the Moon harbors valuable minerals, including helium-3, which could revolutionize electricity generation without pollution.
Looking ahead, the next two years will witness nine planned Moon missions from various nations. Both the United States and China have targeted the lunar south pole for exploration. India faced a setback in 2019 when a previous mission failed to land as intended in proximity to Chandrayaan-3’s target area.
Once Chandrayaan-3 deploys a rover to the lunar south pole, a series of experiments will unfold over 14 days to delve into the composition of lunar soil and rocks. The region is expected to contain ice deposits and valuable minerals. India aims to lead the way by conducting pioneering studies of the Moon’s southern pole, a region that no prior mission has ventured to explore.
What is the significance of water presence on the Moon?
The discovery of water on the Moon traces back to the 1960s, before the initial Apollo landing. Early analyses of lunar samples suggested dryness. However, in 2008, advanced technology allowed Brown University researchers to detect hydrogen within small volcanic glass beads from lunar samples. In 2009, NASA’s instrument aboard the Chandrayaan-1 probe identified water on the Moon’s surface. Concurrently, another NASA probe hitting the southern pole unveiled water ice beneath the lunar crust. Earlier missions like the 1998 Lunar Prospector also hinted at water ice being most concentrated in the shadowed craters of the south pole.
The presence of water on the Moon holds great significance. Ancient water ice pockets can unveil insights into lunar volcanoes, materials brought by comets and asteroids, and the origins of Earth’s oceans. If sufficient water ice is available, it could serve as a potential source of drinking water for lunar exploration and offer cooling capabilities for equipment. Moreover, it could be harnessed for hydrogen fuel and breathable oxygen, thus supporting missions to Mars or lunar resource extraction.
While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming ownership of the Moon, commercial operations remain unrestricted. The Artemis Accords, led by the United States and joined by 27 nations, outline principles for Moon exploration and resource utilization. Notably, China and Russia have not become signatories to these accords.
Read more about Chandrayaan 3 : https://usanewsdiaries.com/unveiling-chandrayaan-3/