Chandrayaan-3 Discovers Highly Active Electric Environment at Moon’s South Pole; Vikram Lander Detects Plasma 3000–8000K
Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander has made a groundbreaking discovery at the Moon’s south pole, identifying a “far more active and highly dynamic” electric environment than previously estimated. According to ISRO, this significant finding was made using the RAMBHA-LP (Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe) instrument mounted on the lander.
First-ever Direct Plasma Measurement Near Lunar Surface at High Southern Latitudes
These observations are the first direct measurements of lunar plasma so close to the surface in the high-latitude southern region. At the landing site, known as ‘Shiv Shakti Point’, the instrument detected electron densities between 380 and 600 particles per cubic centimeter, which is significantly higher than earlier satellite-based estimates.
ISRO further revealed that the detected electrons were highly energetic, with temperatures ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 Kelvin.
Why the Moon’s South Pole Has Such a Dynamic Electrical Environment
The constantly changing electric environment near the surface is caused by:
- Continuous bombardment of charged particles from the solar wind (mainly electrons, hydrogen and helium ions)
- Deposition of charged particles from the Earth’s magnetotail, especially when the Moon passes through it for 3–5 days every 28-day cycle
- Photoelectric effects from sunlight interacting with the lunar surface
Combined together, these processes create a rapidly fluctuating and highly dynamic plasma environment, especially near the south pole.
A Historic Mission: Chandrayaan-3’s Achievements
Chandrayaan-3 is the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) third lunar mission and a historic milestone. With this mission, India became the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole, and the fourth nation worldwide to achieve a soft lunar landing.
- Launched on: 14 July 2023 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
- Successful landing: 23 August 2023 at 6:04 PM IST
- Mission components:
- Propulsion Module
- Vikram Lander
- Pragyan Rover
The Vikram Lander’s detailed measurements are now offering scientists unprecedented insights into the Moon’s near-surface environment, particularly in the challenging and unexplored southern polar region.
