India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, has made a remarkable discovery of sulphur on the Moon’s south pole, according to a report by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission, which was launched in February 2023, has been observing the Sun and its influence on the Earth and the solar system.
Aditya-L1: India’s Eye on the Sun
Aditya-L1 is a 400 kg satellite that carries seven payloads to study various aspects of the Sun, such as its corona, chromosphere, photosphere, solar wind, and magnetic field. The mission is also equipped with a high-resolution camera that can capture images of the Sun in different wavelengths.
The satellite is placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. This orbit allows the satellite to have a continuous view of the Sun without any interference from the Earth or the Moon.
Pragyan: The Lunar Rover That Detected Sulphur
One of the payloads on board Aditya-L1 is Pragyan, a lunar rover that was originally part of India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. Pragyan was supposed to land on the Moon’s south pole along with the Vikram lander, but the landing attempt failed due to a loss of communication.
However, Pragyan survived the crash and remained dormant on the lunar surface until it was reactivated by Aditya-L1 in 2023. The rover then started to explore its surroundings and send back data to Aditya-L1, which relayed it to ISRO.
Pragyan is equipped with an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer (APXS) that can measure the elemental composition of rocks and soil on the Moon. The rover used this instrument to scan a crater near its landing site and detected traces of sulphur.
Sulphur on the Moon: A Sign of Volcanic Activity?
The presence of sulphur on the Moon’s south pole is a surprising finding, as it suggests that the region may have experienced volcanic activity in the past. Sulphur is a volatile element that can escape from magma during eruptions and form deposits on the surface.
The south pole of the Moon is also known to have water ice in some permanently shadowed craters, which could have been delivered by comets or asteroids. The interaction between water and sulphur could have created chemical reactions that may have implications for astrobiology.
ISRO scientists are now planning to conduct further analysis of the data from Pragyan and compare it with other lunar missions, such as NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and China’s Chang’e-4. They are also looking for other elements, such as hydrogen, that could indicate the presence of water or hydroxyl molecules on the Moon.
Aditya-L1: A Milestone for India’s Space Program
The discovery of sulphur on the Moon’s south pole by Aditya-L1 is a significant achievement for India’s space program, as it demonstrates its scientific and technological capabilities. The mission is also expected to provide valuable insights into the Sun and its impact on Earth’s climate and space weather.
Aditya-L1 is one of the many ambitious projects that ISRO has planned for the future, such as Gaganyaan (India’s first manned space mission), Chandrayaan-3 (India’s third lunar mission), Mangalyaan-2 (India’s second Mars mission), and Shukrayaan-1 (India’s first Venus mission).
