Chandrayaan-3 mission has led scientists to believe that ice could be spread more widely across the subsurface of the Moon, particularly near the poles, than was originally suspected. As per certain reports, this has led to a new interest in the research on the surface of the Moon and its past. It is also about what this has revealed is that the potential for ice is located in places more than had been imagined.

Chandrayaan-3 captures key temperature data from Moons surface

Chandrayaan-3, a mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), landed near the South Pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023. It is a region of particular interest for lunar missions. The landing site was officially named ‘Shiv Shakti Point’ three days later.

The lander carried the ChaSTE probe with it, which took samples of important temperatures from the surface of the Moon down to a depth of 10 centimeters. These temperature readings helped create a more accurate picture of the Moon’s surface and how it is being transformed by different environmental conditions.

Temperatures near the landing were highly variable and ranged from roughly 82C by day and -170C by night. Interestingly, however, a meter from the landing, where the surface was horizontal, temperatures were at a slightly lower 60C.

Chandrayaan-3’s findings on lunar ice formation:

They also created a model to forecast the effect of various slope angles on the surface of the Moon on ice formation. Based on their research, lunar surfaces away from the Sun, especially those with angles greater than 14 degrees, may be cold enough for ice to exist close to the surface.

These findings are particularly relevant to future missions to the Moon, such as NASA’s Artemis mission, which will be heading to the south pole of the Moon.