Chandrayaan-3 reveals there could be more water on the Moon than we thought :::: "Presence of accessible ice could serve as a vital resource ....."

 Chandrayaan-3 reveals there could be more water on the Moon than we thought.

The Chandrayaan-3 research team, led by Durga Prasad Karanam from the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, has highlighted the role of large-scale, localised temperature variations in ice formation.

India made history when it landed Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander on the southernmost point of the Moon. It has been hailed as one of the most economical and successful lunar missions undertaken from Earth.

The presence of accessible ice could serve as a vital resource for long-term exploration and potential settlement.  

Recent findings from India's Chandrayaan-3 mission have significantly expanded our understanding of lunar ice deposits, suggesting that they may be more abundant and accessible than previously thought.

The mission, which successfully landed near the Moon's South Pole on August 23, 2023, has provided crucial temperature data that indicate ice could exist in more locations beneath the lunar surface, particularly at the poles, says 'India Today'. 

These variations are influenced by the Moon's surface properties and solar radiation patterns. The study of ice particles formed under these conditions can offer insights into the Moon's geological history and early geologic processes.

The ChaSTE probe, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, measured temperatures from the surface down to a depth of 10 centimeters, revealing highly variable conditions.

Temperatures at the landing site, named 'Shiv Shakti Point,' ranged from 82C during the day to -170C at night.

A model developed by the researchers suggests that lunar surfaces with slopes greater than 14 degrees, facing away from the Sun, could maintain temperatures cool enough for near-surface ice accumulation.  

These findings, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, are particularly relevant for future missions like NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

The presence of accessible ice could serve as a vital resource for long-term exploration and potential settlement. However, due to the Moon's ultra-high vacuum environment, ice would sublimate directly into vapor rather than melting into liquid water.

The discovery shows the importance of developing techniques to harvest and utilise lunar ice for future missions. High-latitude areas on the Moon are identified as promising sites for ice deposits, offering fewer technical challenges compared to the poles.

This new understanding of lunar ice distribution could significantly impact the planning and execution of upcoming lunar missions.

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