Chandrayaan-3 Measures Electron Densities Far Higher Than Expected at South Pole
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander has discovered a "much more active" electrical environment at the Moon's south pole, which is significantly more dynamic than previously estimated. According to ISRO, this result was obtained by the Radio Anatomy of the Moon-bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere - Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) instrument on board Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander.
Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander has found a “far more active” electrical environment in the south pole of the Moon, which is “significantly more dynamic” than thought before. According to ISRO, this finding has been made by the Radio Anatomy of the Moon-bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe experiment on board Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander.
These are the first direct measurements of lunar plasma that have been made this close to the surface in the southern high latitudes of the Moon. Electron density in excess of expectations: Electron densities of 380 to 600 particles per cc were measured near the landing site, known as "Shiva Shakti Bindu."
ISRO explained that the constant bombardment of charged particles from the solar wind and the deposition of particles from the Moon's magnetotail create a constantly changing and dynamic electrical environment near the surface. It further stated that the detected electrons were highly energetic, with temperatures ranging between 3,000 and 8,000 Kelvin.
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According to ISRO, a constant stream of charged particles (primarily electrons, hydrogen, and helium ions) emanating from the Sun's upper atmosphere, called the solar wind, constantly impinges on the Moon's surface. This, combined with the photoelectric effect, is the primary mechanism for plasma formation.
The organization explained that the lunar plasma is further affected by the accumulation of charged particles generated by the Moon's magnetic field (specifically the magnetotail) when the Moon passes through that region (typically every 3-5 days during a 28-day period), resulting in a constantly changing and dynamic electrical environment near the surface.
Chandrayaan-3 is the third lunar mission of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), making India the first country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon's south pole and the fourth country in the world to perform a soft landing on the Moon. Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
The Vikram lander successfully landed on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023, at 6:04 pm Indian time. The mission included an indigenous propulsion module, a Vikram lander, and a Pragyan rover.
