India achieved a momentous milestone on August 23, when ISRO’s Chandrayaan 3 Lander Module successfully landed on the moon’s surface, marking it as the fourth country and the first to reach the untrodden south pole of Earth’s lunar companion. This monumental feat brings with it groundbreaking revelations about the lunar surface, including the confirmation of the presence of sulphur. Additionally, ongoing efforts to uncover the presence of hydrogen are underway.
Unveiling Lunar Composition
A significant breakthrough has been made in the field of lunar exploration, as the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument aboard Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover provided irrefutable evidence of sulphur’s existence on the lunar surface near the south pole. This remarkable achievement stems from the first-ever in-situ measurements conducted by the LIBS instrument, which also identified other elements like aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon, and oxygen in line with expectations.
Science Behind LIBS
The LIBS instrument, developed at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems in Bengaluru, employs an ingenious scientific technique. Subjecting materials to intense laser pulses, it generates localized plasma with extreme heat. The resulting plasma light is then analyzed using detectors to identify distinct wavelengths emitted by different elements in a plasma state. This unique emission signature allows the elemental composition of the material to be determined.
Lunar Elemental Presence
Preliminary analyses unveiled the presence of several elements on the lunar surface, including aluminium (Al), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and titanium (Ti). Subsequent measurements also revealed the existence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). These findings provide valuable insights into the composition of the moon and its geological history.
Continuing the Quest
While sulphur’s presence has been firmly established, the hunt for hydrogen on the lunar surface remains an active pursuit. Ongoing investigations are focused on discerning the presence of hydrogen using advanced techniques and instruments. This endeavour holds the potential to uncover new facets of the moon’s composition and its connection to broader cosmic processes.
Historic Nomenclature
To commemorate this historic achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the christening of the landing sites. The location where Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander softly touched down has been named “Shiv Shakti Point.” In a similar vein, the site where the Chandrayaan-2 lander encountered a crash landing in 2019 has been designated “Tiranga Point.” Moreover, August 23, the day of Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing, will be celebrated annually as “National Space Day.”
India’s triumphant entry into the lunar exploration landscape with Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing brings a new era of scientific discovery. The confirmation of sulphur’s presence and the ongoing search for hydrogen underscore the importance of continued space exploration efforts. As the nation celebrates its achievements, it also reiterates its commitment to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos.
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