New Delhi:

What was known in theory has now been confirmed twice. The Chandrayaan-3 mission has authenticated the presence of sulphur on the lunar south pole region after on site tests, a historical first that could provide clues to the origins of the Moon and also have profound significance for space exploration, say scientists.

On Thursday, India’s space agency ISRO said the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) instrument onboard the Pragyan rover confirmed the presence of sulphur and some other elements in the lunar south. Before that, on Tuesday, ISRO announced that another instrument, the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), found sulphur in the region.

Also Read | ISRO’s Latest Video On Rover Roaming On Moon Has A “Chandamama” Reference

In line with expectations, ISRO also reported the LIBS instrument had detected aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon and oxygen.

“The elements found on the Moon are not merely isolated compounds. They are time capsules carrying the whispers of cosmic history. Such findings not only reshape our comprehension of lunar formations but also offer potential prospects for lunar exploration and habitation,” Akash Sinha, who was involved in developing software for the Pragyan rover, told PTI.

“One prevailing theory is that the sulphur may be trapped within water ice, implying that we might be on the brink of a monumental discovery: the physical presence of water ice on the moon,” the professor of practice at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence in Delhi-NCR added.

An old undated document from the US space agency NASA suggested the potential utilisation of sulphur for making lunar bricks or concrete using it with moon soil. Interestingly, China’s reported plans to test printing bricks from lunar soil this decade for constructing a permanent moon base align with this idea.

The revelation of sulphur’s presence might hold clues to the Moon’s composition and its volcanic past, scientists said.

“Surface sulphur comes from volcanic activity, indicating heavy volcanism at some point in the Moon’s history. However, the detection is from only one spot, so we need more data to gain a clearer picture,” said T V Venkateswaran, a scientist at Vigyaan Prasar, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Sinha added that the discovery of sulphur represents a significant breakthrough in the understanding of lunar geology.

“The presence of sulphur, especially in an area where volcanic activity-a common source of sulphur-is notably absent opens up intriguing possibilities about the origins of the Moon,” he said.

According to astrophysicist Sandip Chakrabarti, the in-situ measurements definitively confirm sulphur’s presence in the region, a feat beyond the capabilities of the instruments on the previous Chandrayaan 1 and 2 orbiters.

“The compositions show abundant lighter metals such as aluminium and also abundant sulphur and iron. Sulphur could come from lunar volcanoes. Only traces of heavy metals such as titanium, and chromium, were found. These are along the expected lines,” Chakrabarti, director of the Indian Center for Space Physics in Kolkata, told PTI.

These elements, he explained, aren’t in their pure form and would need processing for future extraction.

“The discoveries made by Chandrayaan-3 hold vast implications for lunar exploration. Beyond the allure of space travel, the presence of these elements paints a vivid picture of the Moon’s character,” Chakrabarti reflected.

Experts also believe that aluminium’s lightweight strength could become a resource for future missions, potentially transforming the Moon into a launchpad for further space exploration. Calcium’s critical role in biological processes could fuel discussions about the Moon’s potential as a scientific research hub.

Chakrabarti expressed his enthusiasm for Pragyan’s contribution. “It is indeed heartening that Pragyan is actually sending the composition of the topsoil of the landing area, namely, Shiv-Shakti point.” He also highlighted the need for helium, hydrogen and water for future space travel, survival and power generation.

“Right now, we are concentrating on survival on the Moon and not getting richer,” he added.

ISRO has initiated a thorough investigation into the presence of hydrogen.

Venkateswaran, who is also a member of the outreach committee of the Astronomical Society of India, emphasised the rover’s role in confirming a finding from Chandrayaan-1 about hydrogen particles reflected by the Moon’s surface in 2008.

“We do need to see water in any of its forms and hydrogen. That would be a genuine achievement,” Chakrabarti added.

Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole on August 23, making India the first country to land on the uncharted surface.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India’s space agency has shared a video of the Pragyan rover being rotated on the Moon’s surface – remotely from the command centre in Bengaluru – in search of a route that avoids craters and rocks on the lunar surface. The rover and Vikram, the lander that carried Pragyan to the Moon, are racing to finish experiments before a lunar night (which lasts 14 Earth days) sets next week.

“The rover was rotated in search of a safe route. The rotation was captured by a Lander Imager Camera,” the Indian Space Research Organisation posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It feels as though a child is playfully frolicking in the yards of Chandamama, while the mother watches affectionately…”

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The rover was rotated in search of a safe route. The rotation was captured by a Lander Imager Camera.

It feels as though a child is playfully frolicking in the yards of Chandamama, while the mother watches affectionately.
Isn’t it? pic.twitter.com/w5FwFZzDMp

— ISRO (@isro) August 31, 2023

This latest update from the Moon comes a day after Pragyan shared an image of Vikram – the first using its NavCam, or navigation camera and the first since it was deployed. All visuals shared before were taken by the lander; happy ISRO scientists posted the “image of the mission” on X.

READ | “Smile, Please!”: Rover Pragyan Clicks Image Of Lander Vikram On Moon

Pragyan’s “Moon Walk” Video

On Monday too ISRO shared a “re-route” update from the Moon, noting Pragyan had been sent on a different, and safer, path, after coming face-to-face with a four-meter diameter crater.

READ | Rover Pragyan Faces Large Crater During Moon Walk, Sent On “New Path”

Pragyan Confirms Presence Of Sulphur Near Moon’s South Pole

One of the instruments on the rover – the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope – has confirmed the presence of sulphur on the lunar surface near south pole, ISRO said Tuesday, adding that aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon and oxygen had also detected.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

In-situ scientific experiments continue …..

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument onboard the Rover unambiguously confirms the presence of Sulphur (S) in the lunar surface near the south pole, through first-ever in-situ measurements.… pic.twitter.com/vDQmByWcSL

— ISRO (@isro) August 29, 2023

ISRO said in-situ measurements revealed, “unambiguously”, the presence of sulphur – something not feasible using instruments onboard orbiters – and that they were now hunting for hydrogen.

India Makes Space History

The nation took a giant leap on August 23 after Chandrayaan-3’s module – Vikram – touched down; India became only the fourth country – after the United States, China, and Russia – to soft land on the moon’s surface – and the first to go as close as it did to the Moon’s South Pole.

India’s next big space mission is to launch on Saturday – Aditya L1 – which will orbit the Sun and observe solar activities and their effects on space weather in real time.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (centre) felicitates ISRO Chairperson S. Somnath (right) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), in Bengaluru on August 24, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A day after Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the lunar surface, making India the first country to achieve a soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the Missions Operations Complex at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru on August 24.

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He met ISRO Chairperson S. Somnath and felicitated him. He praised the ISRO chief and the team involved in the Chandrayaan mission and congratulated them on their success.

Mr. Siddaramaiah also met the space agency’s Chandrayaan-3 project directors, scientists, engineers and staff and congratulated them.

The achievement triggered celebrations at the ISRO in Bengaluru, where the space agency’s scientists, engineers and staff were joined by mediapersons and others in celebrating the historic event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit ISRO in Bengaluru on August 26 to discuss with top scientists their future projects.