Chandrayaan-3’s ChaSTE Payload Reveals Lunar Surface Temperature Insights
Banglore August28
In a significant development, the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) payload, situated aboard the Vikram Lander, has unveiled its initial findings. ChaSTE’s primary objective is to analyze the temperature distribution of the lunar topsoil around the pole, shedding light on the moon’s thermal behavior. The advanced temperature probe, equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism capable of reaching depths up to 10 cm beneath the lunar surface, boasts 10 individual temperature sensors.
The recently presented graph showcases the temperature fluctuations of the lunar surface and its immediate subsurface at different depths. These measurements were taken as the probe penetrated the lunar terrain. This groundbreaking temperature profile, the first of its kind for the lunar south pole, offers valuable insights into the moon’s thermal characteristics. While the initial observations are intriguing, a comprehensive analysis is currently underway.
The ChaSTE payload is the result of collaborative efforts led by the Space Physics Laboratory (SPL) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), in partnership with the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. For more details, visit the official websites of the Space Physics Laboratory at vssc.gov.in/spl.html and the Physical Research Laboratory at prl.res.in/prl-eng/.
