The Indian space agency has acquired the first scientific data from the hitherto unknown south polar region of the Moon.
This is a major success of the agency’s Chandrayaan-3 mission. The Vikram lander’s thermal probe recorded how the temperature changes on the surface, near the surface and deep on the lunar surface.
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said, ChaSTE (Lunar Surface Thermophysical Experiment) measures the temperature profile of the lunar upper soil around the pole, to understand the thermal behavior of the lunar surface.
It has a temperature probe system equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism capable of reaching a depth of 10 cm below the surface. There are 10 individual temperature sensors in the testing device.
Regarding the graph, ISRO scientist BHM Darukesha told news agency PTI, “We all believed that the temperature on the surface could be around 20 degree centigrade to 30 degree centigrade, but it is 70 degree centigrade. It is surprisingly higher than what we expected.” More than.”
The space agency said that the payload has a temperature measuring instrument capable of reaching a depth of 10 cm below the surface.
“It carries 10 temperature sensors. The graph shows the lunar surface/near-surface temperature variation at different depths. These are the first such profiles for the Moon’s south pole. Detailed observations are in progress,” ISRO said in a statement.
There is no atmosphere on the Moon and the temperature on the surface of the Moon varies greatly. ISRO presented the variations in the form of a graph.
Scientist Darukesha said, “When we go two to three centimeters inside the Earth, we hardly see two to three degrees centigrade variation, whereas there (the Moon) it is about 50 degrees centigrade variation. This is interesting. ” The senior scientist said that below the surface of the Moon, the temperature drops to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
He said that the variation is from 70 degree Celsius to minus 10 degree Celsius.
ISRO said, “The presented graph shows the lunar surface/near-surface temperature variation at various depths, as recorded during the probe’s penetration. This is the first such profile for the Moon’s south pole. Detailed observations are underway.” Have been.”
Vikram Lander landed on the Moon on 23 August.
With this, India became the only country to land on the south polar region of the Moon. The touchdown spot was later named as Shiv Shakti Point.
ISRO said on Saturday that Chandrayaan-3 has accomplished two of its three objectives – soft landing and rover rotation on the lunar surface, and the third ‘in-situ scientific experiment’ is underway.
