Context:
Researchers from ISRO and other contributors have created the first detailed lunar map using data from the Pragyan rover, which was deployed by Vikram during the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Key Findings from Chandrayaan-3’s Lunar South Pole Exploration
- Terrain Types: Undulating highlands and low, flat plains.
- Confirmation of Subsurface Magma Ocean: Confirms an ancient ocean of molten lava extending across the moon.
- Age of Lunar South Polar Region: Estimated to be around 3.7 billion years, coinciding with the emergence of microbial life on Earth.
- Common Origin with Earth: Geochemical similarities with Earth support the theory of a common origin from the same molten material, possibly due to a massive collision with a Mars-sized body about 4.5 billion years ago.
Significance of Lunar Craters
- Craters preserved for billions of years due to no atmospheric erosion.
- Provide insights into the solar system’s early history and help date geological features on other planets.
- Act as time capsules, preserving records of space-rock impacts shaping the solar system.
Moon’s South Pole
- Why is it so difficult to land?
- Never receive direct sunlight
- Intense cold lunar surface (as low as -230° C)
- On Moon’s equator Sun shines continuously for 14 Earth Days but South Pole has changing patterns of light influenced by seasons.
- Sun hovers close to or slightly above horizon causing temperature rise during its brightest times but still tall mountains and deep craters create constant darkness.
- Presence of permanently shadowed craters and deep trenches
- What makes water on Moon so important?
- Preservation of volatile substances like water ice in shadowed craters
- Provides a record of lunar volcanoes
- Study about material that comets and asteroids delivered to Earth
- Understand the origin of oceans
- Where did the water on the moon come from?
- Most of the water inside the moon must have been delivered by asteroids some 4.5 to 4.3 billion years ago.
- Interactions between the solar wind and surface rocks can create water molecules that hop to the poles, where they can accumulate in permanently shadowed craters.
- What will be the scope of Moon’s water if found?
- Source of drinking water for moon exploration
- Helps in cooling equipment
- Broken down to produce hydrogen for fuel and oxygen to breathe
- Supports in future missions such as Mars or lunar mining
The 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty prevents any country from asserting ownership over the moon, while lacking provisions that would hinder commercial activities.
Click here to read about Moon Missions
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Mars Orbiter Mission also called Mangalyaan. Hence statement 1 is correct.
India is the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit Mars in its very first attempt. Hence statement 3 is correct.
India is the first Asian country and ISRO is the fourth space agency to send a satellite to Mars after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
