NEW DELHI. India’s lunar rover has identified the presence of sulfur and detected several other elements near the southern pole of the moon, marking a significant achievement in its search for signs of frozen water. The announcement came from India’s space agency on Tuesday, nearly a week after the historic moon landing.
Utilizing its laser-induced spectroscope instrument, the rover also identified aluminum, iron, calcium, chromium, titanium, manganese, oxygen, and silicon on the moon’s surface, as reported by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on their official website.
Descending from the lander of India’s spacecraft last Wednesday, the Chandrayaan-3 Rover has initiated experiments that are expected to extend over 14 days, according to ISRO.
The presence of sulfur has been “unambiguously confirmed” by the rover, ISRO stated. Additionally, the rover is specifically hunting for indications of frozen water, which holds potential importance for future astronaut missions, possibly serving as a source of drinking water or even rocket fuel.
ISRO Chairman S. Somnath emphasized that the rover’s mission encompasses studying the moon’s atmosphere and seismic activity as well.
The rover’s course was recalibrated on Monday after it neared a 4-meter-wide (13-foot-wide) crater. ISRO assured that the rover is now safely navigating a new path. Due to the rough nature of the moon’s terrain, the craft moves at a slow speed of approximately 10 centimeters (4 inches) per second to minimize potential damage.
India’s recent achievement comes after a failed moon landing attempt in 2019. With this success, India joins an exclusive group, which includes the United States, the Soviet Union, and China, as the fourth nation to attain this remarkable feat.
The triumph underscores India’s emerging role as a technology and space leader, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of India as a rising global force. The mission, executed at an estimated cost of $75 million, commenced over a month ago.
India’s accomplishment was achieved shortly after Russia’s Luna-25 mission, aiming for the same lunar region, faced technical issues and entered an uncontrolled orbit, eventually crashing. This incident dashed Russia’s hopes of achieving its first lunar landing in 47 years.
India’s space endeavors date back to the 1960s, with satellite launches for both domestic and international purposes. Notably, India placed a satellite in Mars’ orbit in 2014. The country is also gearing up for its inaugural mission to the International Space Station in collaboration with the United States, scheduled for next year.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
