According to the Indian Space Research Organisation, Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur on the moon’s surface, near its south pole, and is still searching for hydrogen.
Key points
- The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-3’s rover has made the first-ever in-situ measurements on the elemental composition of the lunar surface near the south pole.
- These in-situ measurements confirm the presence of Sulphur (S) in the region unambiguously, something that was not feasible by the instruments onboard the orbiters.
- The LIBS is a scientific technique that analyses the composition of materials by exposing them to intense laser pulses.
- Preliminary analyses, graphically represented, have unveiled the presence of Aluminum (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), and Titanium (Ti) on the lunar surface. Further measurements have revealed the presence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O).
- The elements detected by the LIBS instrument are all known to occur on the Moon. This data would add to the existing knowledge.
- For example, evidence of the presence of Sulphur can reveal insights on the formation and evolution of the Moon. Sulphur usually originates in volcanic activities, and its presence on the Moon can offer indications about the Moon’s history and composition.
