Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan Rover Discovers Sulfur Traces at the Moon's Southern Pole; What Could This Mean to Future Missions?

India's Pragyan rover has verified the existence of sulfur and identified various other elements at the lunar south pole. In the previous week, the South Asian country achieved the milestone of being the first nation to successfully land a spacecraft near the relatively uncharted lunar south pole, marking its fourth lunar landing.

"First-Ever in-Situ Measurements" of Elements Near the Moon's Southern Pole

In an official statement on Monday, August 28, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said that the Chandrayaan-3 Rover's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument has conducted groundbreaking on-site evaluations of the elemental composition close to the lunar south pole.

This marks the first instance of such measurements. The organization highlighted that these measurements definitively establish the presence of sulfur in the area, a detection that was not achievable using the orbiter-based instruments.

The spectrographic analysis also affirmed the existence of elements like aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, and titanium on the lunar surface. Additionally, supplementary measurements indicated the presence of manganese, silicon, and oxygen.

Named "Pragyan" in Sanskrit, which translates to wisdom, the six-wheeled solar-powered rover embarks on an exploratory journey across the relatively uncharted lunar south pole. Over its anticipated two-week operational span, it will capture and transmit images and scientific data, aiming to uncover potential reservoirs of frozen water, crucial for future astronaut missions as a potential water source and for crafting rocket fuel.

Additionally, the rover is equipped to analyze the moon's atmosphere and seismic movements, as noted by ISRO Chairman S Somanath. Recently, the rover's trajectory was recalibrated to avoid a 4-meter-wide crater, with ISRO confirming its successful redirection onto a new path.

The rover operates at a cautious pace of roughly 10 centimeters (4 inches) per second, meticulously navigating the moon's uneven landscape to prevent jolts and safeguard the vehicle from potential terrain-induced damage.

LIBS Instrument Probes Lunar Rocks By Heating Them

India's Pragyan rover uses the LIBS instrument, which employs laser pulses to heat rocks intensely, generating a concentrated and exceedingly hot plasma. This plasma was subsequently scrutinized to identify emitted wavelengths linked to distinct elements.

Presently, the focus of the agency's investigation is directed towards locating hydrogen, a potential indicator that could lead to confirming the presence of water ice in the region.

Beyond its laser-based rock analysis, Pragyaan is also equipped for evaluating the Moon's sparse atmosphere and identifying any localized seismic movements.

This achievement marks an optimistic trajectory for India's space agency, particularly considering their previous lunar landing attempt's failure in 2019. However, as demonstrated by Pragyaan's advancements, there are ample reasons to pursue their endeavors anew.

Significance of Finding Sulfur and Other Elements Near the Lunar South Pole

Chandrayaan-3 is pioneering future lunar missions, like Artemis 3, by paving the way for landings at the lunar south pole. This region holds significant potential for sustained human presence, with water ice beneath the surface offering resources for consumption and rocket fuel production, reducing reliance on Earth shipments.

Comprehensive knowledge of the chemical makeup of the area aids in planning, potentially enabling future Moon settlers to minimize items brought from Earth. The presence of sulfur raises possibilities for using it in construction, solar cells, and batteries.

Within a short time since landing, Vikram and Pragyan have conducted tasks such as recording the region's soil temperature and have remained actively engaged in exploration.