ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 Rover Unveils Key Findings at Shiv Shakti Point on Moon’s South Pole

On August 23, 2023, India marked a historic milestone by becoming the first country to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole, thanks to the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This achievement is a significant leap in space exploration, particularly for India, and adds to the global understanding of the Moon’s geology.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported a notable discovery by the Chandrayaan-3 rover, Pragyan, at the Moon’s South Pole, specifically at a location named Shiv Shakti point. The rover identified small rock fragments scattered around the wall slopes, floor, and rim of a small crater in this southern region of the Moon.

The data collected and analyzed by the Pragyan rover, which was deployed by the Vikram lander, is expected to provide crucial insights into the origin and distribution of these rock fragments on the lunar surface. This information could help scientists unravel the geological history of the Moon and enhance our understanding of its formation and evolution.

Historical Context

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is part of a series of lunar exploration missions by ISRO. The first mission, Chandrayaan-1, launched in 2008, was instrumental in confirming the presence of water/hydroxyl on the Moon. Chandrayaan-2, launched in 2019, aimed to explore the lunar south pole but faced challenges during the landing phase. Learning from these experiences, Chandrayaan-3 successfully achieved its goal, marking a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities and contributing valuable data to the global scientific community.

Summary

• Historic Achievement: On August 23, 2023, India became the first country to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole with Chandrayaan-3.
• Significant Discovery: The Pragyan rover found small rock fragments around a crater at Shiv Shakti point on the Moon’s South Pole.
• Scientific Insights: The findings will help in understanding the origin and distribution of rock fragments on the lunar surface.
• Mission Context: Chandrayaan-3 follows the successes and lessons of Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, contributing to India’s growing expertise in space exploration.