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Study on Moon Water and Temperature Variations
Context:
Researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad conducted a study to understand the moon’s thermal environment and ice distribution, which is crucial for future lunar exploration and habitation.
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- Water on the moon is crucial not only for astronauts’ drinking and sanitary needs but also as a potential fuel source for future rocket launches from the moon.
- The study is based on data from the Chandrayaan-3 mission, specifically the Vikram lander that touched down on the moon in August 2023.
Research Details
- The study involved in-situ temperature measurements of the top 10 cm of lunar regolith at Shiv Shakti point (69.373°S, 32.319°E) in the moon’s south pole region.
- The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard the Vikram lander measured surface temperatures using custom-designed platinum resistance temperature detectors (RTD), which were mounted on a thermal probe.
- Temperature data was collected from August 24 to September 2, 2023, representing about 8 hours of a lunar day.
Key Findings
- The peak surface temperature at Shiv Shakti point was recorded at 82ºC during the day.
- Temperatures dropped drastically to –181ºC at night.
- The actual temperatures were higher than those predicted by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), especially during the day.
- A significant temperature difference was observed between day and night, suggesting that the lunar surface might have unique thermophysical properties.
- The temperature at a flat site just 1 metre away from the ChaSTE instrument dropped to 58.85ºC, in line with remote-sensing data.
- Locations with slopes facing away from the sun showed lower temperatures, creating conditions that could allow water ice to migrate and stabilise beneath the surface.
Implications for Water Ice
- The study indicates that water ice can potentially be found at shallow depths in more regions of the moon than previously believed, especially in higher latitude areas.
- The findings suggest that certain higher latitude locations may offer similar conditions to the poles, making them viable for water ice accumulation at shallow depths, which is critical for lunar exploration and habitation.
Significance
- This is the first in-situ temperature measurement at a high latitude on the moon, providing valuable data for understanding the moon’s thermophysical properties and water ice distribution.
- Exploration of these higher latitude regions may be technically easier than exploring the poles, offering potential for water ice extraction and other resources crucial for lunar missions.
Future Research
- Researchers are currently using the temperature profiles to model the migration and stability of water-ice at different locations on the moon.
This could lead to a comprehensive understanding of the moon’s near-surface and subsurface water-ice distribution, vital for planning future lunar missions.
