New Insights from Chandrayaan-3: Ice Deposits on the Moon

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, a landmark achievement by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has unveiled promising new data regarding the potential existence of ice deposits beneath the Moon’s polar surface. This groundbreaking research could reshape our understanding of the Moon’s geology and its capacity to support future exploration.

Launched on August 23, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 successfully executed a soft landing near the lunar south pole, a location now known as ‘Shiv Shakti Point.’ Situated at approximately 69 degrees south latitude, this site has revealed intriguing temperature variations that could significantly influence the formation of ice. According to Durga Prasad Karanam, a faculty member at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, these findings were highlighted in a recent study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment.

At the landing site, the temperature swings are striking, ranging from a scorching 82 degrees Celsius during the day to a frigid -170 degrees Celsius at night. Notably, a flat surface just a meter away recorded peak temperatures of about 60 degrees Celsius. These extreme conditions are critical for understanding how ice might form and persist in such an environment. The slope of the landing site, which faces the Sun, plays a significant role in these temperature variations, allowing researchers to explore how such angles can affect surface temperatures at high lunar latitudes.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission utilized the ‘ChaSTE’ probe, installed on the Vikram lander, to gather temperature readings from the lunar surface and up to 10 centimeters below. This innovative device, which consists of a temperature probe and ten distinct sensors, is designed to analyze the thermal characteristics of the lunar topsoil near the pole. Karanam and his team developed a model that indicates slopes exceeding 14 degrees and facing away from the Sun could maintain sufficiently cool temperatures for ice accumulation near the surface, suggesting that ice deposits could be more widespread than previously thought.

While the potential for ice on the Moon is exciting, Karanam clarified that water in liquid form cannot exist on the lunar surface due to its ultra-high vacuum conditions. Instead, ice would sublimate directly into vapor. Despite this limitation, ice remains a vital resource for future lunar exploration and habitation. The study emphasizes the need for further measurements, like those from ChaSTE, to deepen our understanding of lunar resources.

The implications of these findings extend beyond scientific curiosity. They suggest that high-latitude regions of the Moon could serve as promising sites for water-ice scouting, resource prospecting, and even habitation. Such locations could present fewer technical challenges for exploration compared to areas closer to the poles, making them prime candidates for future missions, including NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

In conclusion, the Chandrayaan-3 mission not only advances our knowledge of the Moon’s environment but also opens new avenues for future exploration and potential habitation. As scientists continue to analyze the data collected, the prospect of utilizing lunar ice may one day transform our approach to long-term space exploration.