Chandrayaan-3 is considered a lunar south polar mission because its landing site enabled south pole exploration.
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Peer-reviewed literature and mission reports confirm that Chandrayaan-3 is a lunar south polar mission designed to explore the lunar polar region and southern high latitudes.
Sodium (Na), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) abundances are key to understanding the Moon’s geochemistry and volatile inventory. Here we conduct an assessment comparing the Pragyan rover’s Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) measured abundances of these elements at the Chandrayaan-3 southern high-latitude highland site with their abundances from previous missions. The Chandrayaan-3 landing site exhibits anomalous depletion in sodium and potassium but enrichment in sulfur compared to other highland sites. The reduced sodium and potassium abundances suggest inadequate crystallization of materials enriched in these elements within the source region of the ancient South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, which excavated materials from the lunar interior and deposited it at the Chandrayaan-3 landing site. The sulfur enrichment at the landing site likely indicates the presence of sulfur-rich materials originating from the Moon’s primitive mantle. This inference aligns with the timing of the SPA basin formation and the lunar magma ocean (LMO) crystallization stages. A comparison of elemental abundance data from Chandrayaan-3 regolith relative to previous missions, suggests anomalous depletion in Na and K but enrichment in S which may indicate primitive mantle material excavated from the South Pole-Aitken basin
ABSTRACT In situ measurements of the near surface lunar plasma environment are made using the RAMBHA-LP (Radio Anatomy of the Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere-Langmuir Probe) payload onboard India’s Chandrayaan-3 Lander during lunar daytime (2023 August 24 to 2023 September 2). These observations provide estimates of near surface (2 m above the surface) lunar electron density and electron temperature from the south polar region, ‘for the first time’. The estimations reveal the daytime lunar plasma to have mean electron density (N$_e$) in the range of 380–600/cc and mean electron temperature (T$_e$) in the range of 3000–8000 K. The critical roles of solar wind and the Earth’s magnetospheric particle flux in modulating the lunar dayside ionosphere outside and inside the Earth’s geomagnetic tail, respectively, are unravelled using RAMBHA-LP observations and lunar ionospheric model simulations. The study also highlights the role of molecular species in the genesis of lunar near surface plasma environment.
This article examines India's first science lander mission on 22 July 2019, attempting a historic landing on the Lunar South Pole Region. Communication was lost at 2.1 km above the lunar surface during the rough braking phase. The cause of the Chandrayaan 2 lander "Vikram" failure remains undisclosed. Possible factors such as vibrations, thruster issues, and power depletion are considered. Recommendations include backup power sources and direct communication systems for interplanetary missions. Despite the setback, ISRO proposed "Chandrayaan 3" to explore the lunar polar region. Chandrayaan 2's legacy influences future missions, shaping India's aspirations for pioneering space endeavors. Gratitude is expressed to ISRO for insights gained during live coverage.
The thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith is an essential parameter in studying the thermal behavior of the Moon and in planning future lunar exploration. The Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) aboard Vikram lander of the Indian Moon mission Chandrayaan 3 made the first in situ measurement of thermal conductivity of lunar regolith at southern high latitude using a thermal probe with ten temperature sensors at uneven intervals within 10 cm and a foil-type heater wound around the probe close to the nose tip. The ChaSTE thermal probe was inserted into the lunar regolith by a controlled motorized penetration in 29 hours. Through the two active heating experiments at a depth of 80 mm, the thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith at the Vikram landing site is estimated to be 0.0115 ± 0.0008 and 0.0124 ± 0.0009 W m[Formula: see text] K[Formula: see text], respectively. The average packing density of the lunar regolith derived using the penetration motor current is 1940 ± 10 kg m[Formula: see text]. An empirical model incorporating the temperature and the packing density value yielded thermal conductivity consistent with the in situ measurement. The value of the thermal conductivity measured by ChaSTE is also corroborated by a numerical model.
This article examines India's first science lander mission on 22 July 2019, attempting a historic landing on the Lunar South Pole Region. Communication was lost at 2.1 km above the lunar surface during the rough braking phase. The cause of the Chandrayaan 2 lander "Vikram" failure remains undisclosed. Possible factors such as vibrations, thruster issues, and power depletion are considered. Recommendations include backup power sources and direct communication systems for interplanetary missions. Despite the setback, ISRO proposed "Chandrayaan 3" to explore the lunar polar region. Chandrayaan 2's legacy influences future missions, shaping India's aspirations for pioneering space endeavors. Gratitude is expressed to ISRO for insights gained during live coverage.
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