Chandrayaan-3: Another rover instrument confirms presence of sulphur through different technique, ISRO shares update

Chandrayaan-3: Another rover instrument confirms presence of sulphur through different technique, ISRO shares update

On August 23, India achieved a historic milestone with the successful landing of the Lander Module (LM) of ISRO’s ambitious third Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, on the lunar surface. This achievement solidified India’s position as the fourth country in the world to achieve such a feat, and notably, the first to accomplish a landing at the previously unexplored south pole of the Moon.

Subsequent to the landing, the rover named Pragyan was deployed onto the lunar surface. This marked the beginning of a new phase of exploration, where various observations have been undertaken with the aim of uncovering the secrets of the Moon, particularly in the uncharted region of the south pole.

The pursuit of lunar secrets at the south pole holds immense scientific value, as it presents an opportunity to gather unique insights into the Moon’s geology, composition, and other key aspects. The observations made by Pragyan on the lunar surface are expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of the Moon’s history, evolution, and potential resources.

ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission not only underscores India’s advancements in space technology but also highlights the global significance of lunar exploration efforts. The successful landing and subsequent observations by the rover demonstrate the potential for significant scientific discoveries and advancements in space exploration that can benefit humanity’s knowledge of our celestial neighbors.

On August 31, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced a significant update regarding the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s rover, ‘Pragyan’. According to ISRO, a new instrument onboard the rover has successfully confirmed the presence of sulphur in the lunar region. This confirmation was achieved using a different technique compared to previous methods.

The discovery of sulphur on the lunar surface holds scientific importance, as it provides insights into the Moon’s geological composition and history. The utilization of a distinct technique to confirm the presence of sulphur indicates ISRO’s commitment to employing various advanced instruments and methods to gather comprehensive data and unlock valuable information about the Moon’s characteristics.

This achievement demonstrates the success of ISRO’s ongoing efforts in lunar exploration and showcases the organization’s dedication to advancing space research and understanding. The Chandrayaan-3 mission continues to contribute to our knowledge of the Moon’s composition, which in turn enhances our understanding of the solar system’s history and evolution.

ISRO has reported that the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) instrument has identified the presence of sulphur (S) along with other minor elements. The APXS instrument’s detection of sulphur contributes to a broader understanding of the lunar region’s composition and reinforces ISRO’s commitment to utilizing advanced technology for thorough scientific exploration. This discovery further adds to the wealth of data being collected through the Chandrayaan-3 mission, enhancing our comprehension of the Moon’s geological and chemical makeup.

The recent discovery made by Chandrayaan-3 (Ch-3) has prompted scientists to explore new explanations for the origin of sulphur (S) in the region. ISRO shared that the presence of sulphur raises questions about whether it is intrinsic to the Moon, possibly volcanic in nature, or even the result of meteoritic interactions. The Bengaluru-based national space agency noted these possibilities in a post.

In addition to this update, ISRO released a video that showcases the operation of the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) instrument. The video demonstrates the automated hinge mechanism, which facilitates the rotation of the 18 cm tall APXS and aligns its detector head to be approximately 5 cm in proximity to the lunar surface. This mechanism plays a crucial role in enabling accurate data collection and analysis, contributing to the ongoing exploration and understanding of the lunar environment.

The continuous findings and advancements made through the Chandrayaan-3 mission underline ISRO’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of lunar exploration and expanding our knowledge of the Moon’s composition, history, and potential resources.

The Pragyan rover, weighing 26 kg and featuring six wheels, is powered by solar panels and boasts scientific instruments designed to analyze the composition of lunar soil and rocks. Positioned in the south polar region where Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed, Pragyan aims to gather crucial data that will help scientists understand the makeup of the lunar surface, particularly in comparison to the highland regions.

The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) instrument, employed by Pragyan, is uniquely suited for conducting on-the-spot analysis of the elemental composition of soil and rocks. This instrument is particularly effective in environments with minimal atmospheres, such as the Moon.

The APXS incorporates radioactive sources that emit alpha particles and X-rays onto surface samples. Subsequently, the atoms present in the sample emit distinct X-ray lines that correspond to the elements found within. By examining the energies and intensities of these characteristic X-rays, researchers can determine the elements present and their relative concentrations.

The information collected by Pragyan’s APXS instrument contributes significantly to our understanding of the Moon’s composition, geological history, and potential resources. This data plays a crucial role in uncovering the mysteries of the lunar surface and advancing our knowledge of the celestial bodies within our solar system.

The observations made by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) have unveiled the presence of intriguing minor elements, which includes sulphur, in addition to the major anticipated elements like aluminum, silicon, calcium, and iron. These findings emphasize the complexity of the lunar soil composition and offer insights into the diverse elements that make up the Moon’s surface.

Furthermore, the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument, another component onboard the rover, has already confirmed the existence of sulphur. The utilization of LIBS technology aids in rapidly identifying the elemental composition of samples by employing laser-induced plasma. This information adds to the growing body of data that is currently being subjected to detailed scientific analysis.

The ongoing analysis of these observations provides scientists with a deeper understanding of the lunar environment, its geological history, and its potential for scientific exploration. The combination of APXS and LIBS instruments enables a comprehensive exploration of the lunar surface and contributes to unraveling the Moon’s mysteries.

The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) was developed by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, with support from the Space Application Centre (SAC) also located in Ahmedabad. Additionally, the deployment mechanism for the APXS instrument was created by the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru.

In a prior development on August 30, the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope instrument onboard the ‘Pragyan’ rover of Chandrayaan-3 achieved an ‘unambiguous confirmation’ of sulphur’s presence on the lunar surface near the south pole. This accomplishment was accompanied by the detection of other elements such as Aluminum (Al), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), Titanium (Ti), Manganese (Mn), Silicon (Si), and Oxygen (O). ISRO also noted that efforts to identify Hydrogen (H) are ongoing.

These remarkable findings signify significant progress in lunar exploration and add to the growing body of knowledge about the Moon’s composition and characteristics. The collaborative efforts of various research and development institutions have been instrumental in enabling these advancements in space technology and scientific understanding.

In a subsequent tweet, ISRO shared a video showcasing the rover’s rotation as it explores and searches for a secure pathway on the lunar surface. The rotation was captured by a camera onboard the lander, providing a visual representation of the rover’s movement.

Accompanying the video, ISRO added a heartfelt sentiment, likening the rover’s actions to that of a child joyfully playing in the surroundings of Chandamama (the Moon), with a watchful and affectionate mother (ISRO) observing. This analogy captures the sense of discovery, wonder, and care that characterizes ISRO’s lunar mission and the journey of the Pragyan rover. The playful imagery highlights the excitement and commitment with which ISRO pursues its exploration of the Moon and expands our understanding of the celestial realm.