ISRO Chandrayaan-2 Findings Reveal Possible Subsurface Ice On Moon
Chandrayaan-2 data suggests possible subsurface ice deposits on the Moon.
Scientists analysing data from India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission have found new evidence suggesting the possible presence of subsurface ice in permanently shadowed regions near the Moon’s south pole. The findings come from research conducted at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, using observations collected by the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
The study focused on permanently shadowed regions (PSRs), which are areas near the lunar south pole that never receive direct sunlight. Within these regions, researchers also examined what are described as “doubly shadowed craters,” which are smaller craters located inside larger permanently shadowed formations. These areas are considered prime candidates for the long-term preservation of water ice due to their extremely low temperatures.
According to the analysis, temperatures in these regions can drop to around 25 Kelvin, making them among the coldest environments in the solar system. Because they remain shielded from both sunlight and thermal radiation, these conditions allow volatile substances such as water ice to remain stable over extended periods, strengthening the possibility of ice deposits beneath the surface.
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A key role in the study was played by the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter’s Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) instrument. Operating in L- and S-band microwave frequencies, DFSAR is the first fully polarimetric radar system designed for lunar exploration. It enables scientists to probe below the lunar surface by analysing how radar signals reflect from different subsurface structures and materials.
Researchers said the radar data indicates signatures consistent with the possible presence of ice beneath the lunar surface in these shadowed regions. While the findings do not confirm large, accessible ice deposits, they provide important new evidence that supports ongoing scientific interest in the Moon’s polar regions as a potential reservoir of water resources for future exploration missions.
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