Following the triumphant placement of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's South Pole by ISRO, a mission to uncover lunar ice has commenced. The endeavor utilizes the ChaSTE payload onboard the Vikram Lander. However, a challenge has arisen: the current drilling capability is limited to 10 cm, of which 8 cm has already been drilled, registering a temperature of -10°C. To ascertain the presence of ice beyond 10 cm, a longer drilling apparatus is needed.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The ChaSTE (Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment) payload on the Vikram Lander plays a pivotal role. It measures the temperature profile of the lunar surface around the pole, offering insights into the moon's thermal behavior. Equipped with a temperature probe featuring controlled penetration, it can reach up to 10 cm beneath the surface. This probe is fitted with 10 temperature sensors.
Presenting the initial findings, a graph depicts temperature variations at different depths during the probe's penetration. This provides the first-ever profile of the lunar south pole's thermal characteristics. While this insight is valuable, more in-depth observations are currently in progress.
The mission is a step toward unraveling the Moon's hidden ice reserves. To achieve this, advancements in drilling technology are pivotal. The hope is that India's forthcoming lunar missions will include extended equipment capable of delving at least 1-1.5 meters beneath the surface, revealing more about the Moon's icy secrets. As ISRO's moon exploration continues, these efforts contribute to expanding our knowledge of celestial bodies and the mysteries they hold.
