New Delhi, India: Recent analysis of data from India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has unveiled significant findings about the lunar surface at the Moon’s South Pole. The exploration by the Pragyan rover has provided valuable insights into the distribution and origin of rock fragments in the area, offering a groundbreaking advancement in our understanding of lunar geology.
After touching down on the Moon on August 23, 2023, the Pragyan rover, deployed by the Vikram lander, embarked on a journey that spanned 103 meters across the lunar surface in a single lunar day. The findings reveal an intriguing trend: an increase in both the number and size of rock fragments as the rover moved approximately 39 meters westward from its landing site, known as Shiv Shakti point.
Located in the Nectarian plains region between the Manzinus and Boguslawsky craters, the area explored by the Pragyan rover has captured the interest of scientists worldwide. Rock fragments were discovered scattered around the rims, wall slopes, and floors of small craters, with sizes not exceeding 2 meters in diameter.
At the International Conference on Planets, Exoplanets, and Habitability earlier this year, the new findings from the Chandrayaan-3 mission were presented, showcasing the signs of degradation in two rock fragments that suggest they have undergone space weathering. These discoveries further support existing studies that indicate a gradual coarsening of rock fragments within the lunar regolith.
India’s successful soft landing in the lunar south pole during the Chandrayaan-3 mission marked a significant milestone, making it the first country globally to achieve this feat. This achievement solidified India’s position as the fourth country to soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon, following the Soviet Union, United States, and China, showcasing India’s prowess in space exploration and technological advancements.