The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is set to land on the unexplored Lunar South Pole on Wednesday at 6:04 PM IST. Their mission, Chandrayaan-3, is leading the way into this uncharted territory, creating a fresh frontier for space exploration that no other space agency has ventured into before.
Numerous factors contribute to the absence of attempts to land on the Moon's South Pole. From grappling with difficulties during the landing process to encountering the frozen conditions of the surface, the obstacles involved in reaching the pole are unparalleled.
The bumpy landscape of the Lunar South Pole, covered with large craters, poses landing challenges. These difficulties are made even tougher by the dark lighting conditions during the spacecraft's descent, despite the use of advanced sensors.
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The intensely cold lunar surface, where temperatures drop to as low as -230 degrees Celsius, creates a major hurdle for the proper functioning of crucial electronic devices needed for exploring the Lunar South Pole.
On the Moon's equator, the Sun shines continuously for roughly 14 Earth days, followed by a similarly long period of darkness. However, the Lunar South Pole has a distinct story to tell, featuring changing patterns of light influenced by the changing seasons. This variation in lighting prompts space agencies to carefully plan and time their missions to ensure they receive the best possible sunlight exposure on the surface.
At the Lunar South Pole, the Sun hovers close to or slightly above the horizon, causing temperatures to rise significantly, reaching up to a blazing 130°F (54°C) during its brightest times. Interestingly, even in these daylight periods, tall mountains cast strong shadows, while deep craters create areas of constant darkness within the South Pole's depths.
Despite such challenges, the competition to reach the Lunar South Pole is growing stronger, driven by the belief that it holds great promise for upcoming exploration missions and the potential establishment of a lunar base.
Having water ice in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) is a game-changing discovery. It provides essential resources for sustenance and the possibility of using it as rocket fuel for upcoming missions and explorers. Water ice on the Moon’s South Pole was discovered by Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Sunlit mountain peaks near the pole provide an opportunity for sustained solar energy supply to potential lunar outposts. Robotic rovers offer the potential to dig into lunar soil within PSRs and retrieve precious water resources, completely transforming the prospects for sustainable exploration.
As human missions gear up to explore the South Pole, a successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 would serve as proof of advancing technology and bold space goals. Additionally, studies conducted here will significantly impact forthcoming Artemis-III missions, signifying the revival of lunar exploration after five decades for NASA.