The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced on Tuesday that the country’s moon rover, Pragyan, had discovered elements including oxygen, aluminum, and sulfur close to the moon’s southern pole. The same area is being investigated by ISRO in order to confirm the presence of hydrogen.
The Chandrayaan-3 rover’s Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) capability allowed for this amazing discovery. With the use of this equipment, researchers were able to examine the lunar surface’s composition in close proximity to the southern polar region for the first time.
The LIBS procedure includes scanning materials with strong laser pulses. When these pulses strike the material’s surface, a heated, confined plasma is produced. Then, using specialized equipment, the light emitted from this plasma is measured and examined. When in a plasma form, several elements emit distinctive light wavelengths that enable scientists to determine their presence and composition.
The moon’s surface contains substances including aluminum (Al), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and titanium (Ti), according to preliminary ISRO findings. Additional investigation has also found oxygen (O), silicon (Si), and manganese (Mn).
These results represent a significant advancement, particularly in light of the fact that earlier orbiting devices were unable to offer such precise information regarding the presence of sulfur in this particular region.