Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan Rover detects sulphur on Moon
Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Tuesday that Chandrayaan-3 has reported new findings, marking the first-ever in-situ measurement of Sulphur on the Moon.
The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument onboard Pragyan Rover has also identified elements such as aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon, and oxygen, aligning with expectations. The search for Hydrogen (H) is currently ongoing, the space agency said.
The LIBS instrument was developed at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)/ISRO in Bengaluru.
In another update, ISRO shared information about the Pragyan Rover's ongoing expedition on the lunar South Pole.
The official ISRO account on X (formerly Twitter) provided an update from the perspective of the rover itself.
The message indicated that the rover is now en route to unveiling the Moon's mysteries.
The Pragyan Rover also reported that it is in communication with its companion, the Vikram Lander, and both are in good condition. The message concluded with an optimistic note about forthcoming discoveries.
"Hello earthlings! This is #Chandrayaan3's Pragyan Rover. I hope you're doing well. I want to let everyone know that I'm on my way to uncover the secrets of the Moon. Me and my friend Vikram Lander are in touch. We're in good health. The best is coming soon," ISRO InSight posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 29, 2023
In-situ scientific experiments continue .....
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument onboard the Rover unambiguously confirms the presence of Sulphur (S) in the lunar surface near the south pole, through first-ever in-situ measurements.… pic.twitter.com/vDQmByWcSL
On August 28, ISRO revealed that the Pragyan Rover encountered a 4-meter diameter crater on the lunar surface.
The science organisation informed that the Rover had been directed to retrace its path and is now safely navigating along a new trajectory.
India achieved a significant milestone on August 23, as the Chandrayaan-3 lander module effectively touched down on the moon's South pole.
With this achievement, India has become the fourth country, following the US, China, and Russia, to successfully achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface, solidifying its position in lunar exploration history.