Chandrayaan 3 Achieves First-Ever In-Situ Moon Element Detection, Confirming Oxygen and More
In a groundbreaking revelation, Chandrayaan 3 has provided definitive evidence of various elements on the moon’s surface, including aluminum, sulfur, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon, and oxygen. This achievement marks the first-ever in-situ measurement of lunar elements, particularly near the moon’s south pole.
Traditionally, remote sensing from a distance of approximately 100 kilometers away has been the primary method for gathering lunar data, as demonstrated by previous missions like Chandrayaan 1, Chandrayaan 2, and American orbiters. However, Chandrayaan 3’s findings have introduced a new dimension to lunar exploration by directly studying the moon’s elements from the lunar surface itself.
To put this development in perspective, scientist TV Venkateswaran offered an analogy: “It’s akin to ensuring vegetables are properly cooked by tasting them rather than merely observing them from afar. But we won’t accept that. However, true confirmation requires landing on the moon in a few locations, collecting this data, and cross-referencing it with remote sensing data. If the two sets of data match, our confidence in remote sensing data will significantly increase.”
Chandrayaan 3’s findings, which extend beyond the presence of oxygen and sulfur, present a valuable opportunity to verify and enhance the accuracy of data collected via remote sensing. The mission’s ability to detect elements that were previously challenging to identify using instruments onboard orbiters demonstrates the importance of on-site investigations.
In a related development, the Pragyan rover’s mission encountered a 4-meter-wide crater along its route, prompting a reprogramming of its path from the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on Monday. Chandrayaan 3’s mission continues to provide groundbreaking insights into lunar composition, paving the way for future lunar exploration endeavors.
