Isro’s Chandrayaan-3 detects hidden ice beneath Moon’s surface

Chandrayaan-3 Data Suggests More Ice May Exist Below Moon’s Surface (Image: ISRO)

A recent study based on Chandrayaan-3 data suggests ice deposits may be more widespread beneath the Moon’s polar surface than previously thought. Scientists believe local temperature changes could influence ice formation, offering insights into its origins and development.

Durga Prasad Karanam, a researcher at Ahmedabad’s Physical Research Laboratory, shared insights with PTI. He stated that understanding these ice particles could reveal crucial details about their history and evolution. The study was published in Communications Earth and Environment.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, launched by ISRO from Bengaluru, achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023. The landing site was later named Shiv Shakti Point on 26 August. Located at about 69 degrees south latitude, the site experiences extreme temperature changes.

Temperature Variations and NASA Connection
At the landing location, which sits on a six-degree Sun-facing slope, daytime temperatures reached 82°C, while nighttime temperatures dropped to -170°C. A nearby flat surface, just a metre away, recorded a lower peak of 60°C. These conditions match NASA’s proposed Artemis landing sites, which aim to establish a long-term lunar presence.

Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander carried the ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) probe to measure surface and subsurface temperatures. The instrument, developed by ISRO, analyses the Moon’s thermal properties. It features a temperature probe with ten sensors and a controlled penetration system reaching 10 cm below the surface. Scientists hope these findings will aid future lunar exploration and research.