Context:
Chandrayaan-3 has created history by landing near the little-explored south pole of the Moon.
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: WEF
Previous Year Question
Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following
1. Gravitational force of the Sun
2. Gravitational force of the Moon
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
