Digital Desk, New Delhi. Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander has discovered a "much more active" electrical environment at the Moon's south pole, which is much more dynamic than previously thought. According to ISRO, this result has been obtained by the Radio Anatomy of the Moon Bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) instrument mounted on Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3.
These results are the first direct measurements of lunar plasma so close to the Moon's surface in the southern high latitudes. Higher than expected electron density: The electron density near the landing site (called 'Shiv Shakti Bindu') was found to be between 380 and 600 particles per cubic centimeter, significantly higher than previous satellite-based estimates.
ISRO said that the continuous bombardment of charged particles from solar winds and deposition of particles from the moon's magnetotail results in a constantly changing and dynamic electrical environment near the surface. It was further reported that the detected electrons were highly energetic, with temperatures ranging between 3,000 and 8,000 Kelvin.
According to ISRO, a continuous stream of charged particles (mainly electrons, hydrogen and helium ions) emanating from the Sun's upper atmosphere, called the solar wind, continuously hits the Moon's surface. This, together with the photoelectric effect, is the primary mechanism for plasma formation.
The organization reported that lunar plasma is further affected by deposition of charged particles generated by the Moon's magnetic field (particularly the magnetotail) when the Moon passes through that region (typically 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 Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Vikram Lander successfully landed on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023 at 6:04 pm IST. This mission included an indigenous propulsion module, a Vikram Lander and a Pragyan Rover.