Chandrayaan-3 Will Attempt the Feat of Landing on South Pole of the Moon. Why is this Important?

With anticipation building, Chandrayaan-3 — scheduled for launch on July 14 — will be the first mission to land on the moon’s south pole. This area is of particular interest because of its permanently shaded areas, where water ice is expected. The mission aims to study the unique geology and formation of this unexplored region.

By analyzing the environment of the moon’s south pole, including factors such as thermal conductivity and regolith properties, Chandrayaan-3 will contribute to determining the landing site. This information will be crucial for future lunar missions and potential human exploration.

Why is this important

Chandrayaan-3, the upcoming lunar mission by India, is set to achieve a milestone by being the first spacecraft to land on the south pole of the moon. Previous landings on the Moon occurred mainly in the equatorial region, only a few degrees of latitude north or south of the lunar equator. The furthest any spacecraft has traveled from the equator was NASA’s Surveyor 7, which touched down near 40 degrees south latitude on January 10, 1968, according to a report by NASA. Indian Express.

In April 2019, Israel attempted an Antarctic landing but unfortunately crashed during the process. Similarly, India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission, which was launched in 2019, also intended to land at the lunar south pole, but encountered a software bug that crashed during the final stages. To rectify the problems, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) made modifications to the software and hardware of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, with a particular focus on the descent engines. The lander now has four thrusters instead of five, more stable legs, larger solar panels, and increased fuel capacity to ensure a successful landing.

The Chinese Chang’e 4 mission, which landed on the far side of the moon in 2019, approached the south pole of the moon, landing near 45 degrees latitude. NASA’s Artemis III mission, scheduled for launch in 2025, aims to explore the region near the moon’s south pole.

Why the south pole of the moon?

• difficult circumstances: The lunar south pole presents difficulties with landing and continuing operations due to the harsh and contrasting conditions. However, its unique properties hold promise for scientific discoveries in deep space and further exploration of the solar system.
• Water potential: Water ice has been detected at both lunar poles, with the south pole possibly having a greater concentration due to its larger area in permanent shadow and cooler temperatures. This makes it an interesting site for studying water resources and their implications for future human expeditions.
• Frozen time capsule: The extremely cold Antarctic temperatures help keep the materials largely unchanged over time. Rocks, soils, and the Antarctic-Aitken Basin, a massive crater, can provide valuable insights into the early solar system and may contain material from the moon’s deep crust and upper mantle.
• difficult terrain: Exploring Antarctica is challenging because of its rugged and treacherous terrain. Parts of the area remain in complete darkness, making it difficult to conduct operations that depend on sunlight. In addition, temperatures can drop below -230°C, posing operational challenges for devices and equipment.
• Safety concerns: The presence of large craters, ranging in size from centimeters to thousands of kilometers, increases the complexity and potential risks of landing and operating on the south pole of the Moon. The former head of ISRO highlighted the anxiety and uncertainty associated with the “15 minutes of terror” during the Chandrayaan-2 mission landing attempt.

With input from the agencies