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Aug 09, 2023

Chandrayaan

ISRO/Twitter By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Policies You may unsubscribe at any time. India's Chandrayaan-3 rover has officially confirmed the presence of sulfur and other elements

ISRO/Twitter

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India's Chandrayaan-3 rover has officially confirmed the presence of sulfur and other elements on the south pole of the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reported. Tasked with finding frozen water as its primary mission, this new discovery is also important and a great achievement for the Indian team.

The Indian Space Research Organization announced that the rover's laser-induced spectroscope detected several elements, including aluminum, iron, calcium, chromium, titanium, manganese, oxygen, and silicon on the lunar surface.

"The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard Chandrayaan-3 Rover has made the first-ever in-situ measurements on the elemental composition of the lunar surface near the south pole. These in-situ measurements confirm the presence of Sulphur (S) in the region unambiguously, something that was not feasible by the instruments onboard the orbiters," the ISRO reported.

The LIBS technique is a scientific method that examines the makeup of materials by subjecting them to powerful laser pulses. It involves directing a high-energy laser pulse onto the surface of a material, such as a rock or soil, which creates an extremely hot and localized plasma. The plasma light is then collected and analyzed using detectors like Charge Coupled Devices, which can determine the composition of the material based on the unique wavelengths of light emitted by each element in a plasma state.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:Smile, please📸!Pragyan Rover clicked an image of Vikram Lander this morning. The 'image of the mission' was taken by the Navigation Camera onboard the Rover (NavCam). NavCams for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission are developed by the Laboratory for… pic.twitter.com/Oece2bi6zE

The Chandrayaan-3 lunar rover descended from India's spacecraft via a ramp near the Moon's south pole and is set to perform experiments for the next 14 days, according to the ISRO. The rover "unambiguously confirms the presence of sulfur", they added. The rover is currently exploring for indications of frozen water, which may be useful for upcoming astronaut expeditions as a potential source of drinking water or for creating rocket fuel. Additionally, it will examine the moon's atmosphere and seismic movements, according to ISRO Chairman S. Somnath.

But everything hasn't gone without a hitch. On Monday (August 28, 2023), the rover's path was redirected after nearing a four-meter-wide crater. The Indian Space Research Organization stated that the rover is now on a safe, new route. The craft moves slowly at 10 centimeters per second to prevent damage from the moon's rough terrain.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:On August 27, 2023, the Rover came across a 4-meter diameter crater positioned 3 meters ahead of its location. The Rover was commanded to retrace the path. It's now safely heading on a new path.#Chandrayaan_3#Ch3 pic.twitter.com/QfOmqDYvSF

With Chandrayaan-3, India became the fourth country to successfully land on the Moon last week, following the United States, the Soviet Union, and China. The successful mission highlights India's growing technology and space leader position. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of projecting India as a rising power among the global elite. The mission began more than a month ago at an estimated cost of $75 million, the Associated Press reported.