As excitement builds for India’s upcoming Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, an expert takes us on a captivating journey into the realm of lunar exploration.
The Moon has held humanity’s fascination for centuries, and with each new mission, we unveil more about its geological past, composition, and potential for groundbreaking scientific revelations.
Dr. TV Venkateswaran, a scientist at Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and a member of the public outreach committee of the Astronomical Society of India, sheds light on critical aspects of lunar exploration. He discusses the Moon’s geological evolution, the significance of its southern pole, the presence of water and ice, and India’s ambitious lunar exploration agenda.
The lunar south pole has emerged as a focal point for exploration, owing to its distinctive attributes and promising scientific prospects.
This region is believed to house a vast reservoir of water ice within permanently shadowed areas.
The presence of water holds immense importance for future space exploration endeavors, as it can be transformed into valuable resources like potable water, oxygen, and hydrogen for rocket fuel.
Furthermore, the perpetually sunlit area in this locale maintains temperatures between minus 50 to 10 degrees Celsius, creating optimal chemical conditions for the reliable operation of the electronics aboard rovers and landers.
