Chandrayaan-3 data says water ice easier to find on moon than believed
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)
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Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology |
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Context |
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Moon Water as a Key Resource
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Countries like the US, China, Russia, and India are planning long-term moon missions.
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Water on the moon is essential for astronauts’ survival and can also be used as fuel for space missions.
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A recent study has found that water ice on the moon is more accessible than previously believed.
Temperature Studies by Chandrayaan-3
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Understanding the temperature on the moon is important to estimate water availability.
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The study used data from the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, which landed on the moon in August 2023.
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The study focused on temperature variations up to 10 cm below the lunar surface.
Use of RTD Sensors for Temperature Measurement
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The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Vikram measured the lunar surface temperature.
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A probe with 10 highly accurate temperature sensors was used.
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The data was collected for about 10 Earth days, from August 24 to September 2, 2023.
Temperature Findings and Implications
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The surface temperature at the landing site reached 82°C during the day.
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At night, the temperature dropped drastically to -181°C.
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These extreme temperature variations suggest unique thermal properties of the moon’s surface.
New Findings on Water Ice Distribution
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Earlier, scientists believed water ice was stable only at the moon’s poles.
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The study found that certain high-latitude areas could also support water ice at shallow depths.
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This means water can be accessed in more locations, making future moon missions easier.
Future Implications
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The findings help in planning future moon exploration and human settlements.
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Understanding moon thermophysics will improve water ice mapping for future missions.
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The research supports the long-term goal of using the moon as a base for deep space missions.
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Chandrayaan-3 Mission: |
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Practice Question: Chandrayaan-3’s findings on lunar surface temperatures have significant implications for future moon exploration and resource utilization. What is the importance of these discoveries in the context of future space missions? (150 Words /10 marks) |
