The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope aboard the Pragyan rover, using the first-ever in-sity measurements, revealed the existence of sulphur in the lunar surface close to the south pole, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday.
Aluminium, Calcium, Ferrous (Iron), Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon, and Oxygen were likewise as predicted found in the rover’s spectroscope, according to ISRO. There is a hydrogen hunt going on.
“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). Thorough investigation regarding the presence of Hydrogen is underway”, ISRO mentioned in its statement.
“LIBS instrument is developed at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)/ISRO, Bengaluru”, ISRO further added.
It follows the Indian space agency’s announcement that the Pragyan rover was “on its way to discover more secrets” of the moon. Several hours after Chandrayaan 3’s successful landing on the south pole of the moon on August 23, the rover was launched out of the “Vikram” lander.
On August 26, ISRO published a video of the rover exploring the area near the Chandrayaan 3’s landing site, known as “Shiv Shakti Point.” “Chandrayaan-3 Mission: 🔍What’s new here? Pragyan rover roams around Shiv Shakti Point in pursuit of lunar secrets at the South Pole 🌗”! ISRO wrote on X.
“On August 27, 2023, the Rover came across a 4-meter diameter crater positioned 3 meters ahead of its location. The Rover was commanded to retrace the path. It’s now safely heading on a new path”, ISRO had recently averred.
The Pragyan rover discovered a crater with a diameter of four metres on the lunar surface yesterday, according to the space agency, which reported the discovery yesterday.
On August 23, India made history by being the first nation to set foot on the South Pole of the moon.
