New Delhi: Ice deposits may exist in more locations just beneath the Moon’s surface at its poles than previously believed according to a study based on data from India Chandrayaan-3 mission. Researchers suggest that varying surface temperatures significantly impact ice formation, and studying these deposits could provide deeper insights into the Moon’s history and geology.
Scientists analyzed temperature readings up to 10 cm below the lunar surface using the ChaSTE probe aboard the Vikram lander. The lander, which touched down near the Moon’s south pole at 69° south latitude, recorded extreme temperature fluctuations—from 82°C during the day to -170°C at night. Even a slight change in surface slope caused notable temperature differences, influencing ice stability.
The study, published in Communications Earth and Environment, developed a model showing that slopes tilted away from the Sun at angles greater than 14° could be cold enough for ice to accumulate. This insight suggests that lunar ice may be more accessible than previously assumed, aligning with NASA’s proposed Artemis mission landing sites.
Lead author Durga Prasad Karanam, from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, emphasized that ice on the Moon is a valuable resource for future exploration and habitability. However, due to the Moon’s ultra-high vacuum environment, ice cannot turn into liquid water but would sublimate directly into vapor.
The study highlights the need for advanced extraction techniques to utilize lunar ice for sustainable exploration. With more temperature measurements like those from ChaSTE, researchers hope to map ice deposits in detail, making resource prospecting and habitation more feasible.
“These high-latitude sites are scientifically significant and pose fewer technical challenges for future missions compared to regions closer to the Moon’s poles,” the authors concluded.
