Chandrayaan-3 BIG Update: Another Instrument On Pragyan Rover Confirms Presence Of Sulphur On Moon, ISRO Shares New Video

NEW DELHI: In a significant update, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Thursday that another cutting-edge tool installed on the Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3 has definitively identified the presence of sulphur on the Moon, utilizing an innovative analytical method.

Confirming the findings on micro-blogging platform X, ISRO unveiled that the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) has not only detected sulphur but has also unveiled the presence of various other trace elements. Under the mission segment titled “Chandrayaan-3: In-situ Scientific Experiments,” the rover’s equipment has effectively confirmed the existence of sulphur in the designated region using a distinctive approach.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

In-situ Scientific Experiments

Another instrument onboard the Rover confirms the presence of Sulphur (S) in the region, through another technique.

The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) has detected S, as well as other minor elements.

This… pic.twitter.com/lkZtz7IVSY
— ISRO (@isro) August 31, 2023

ISRO’s official tweet reads, “Advancing lunar exploration: Rover’s Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) identifies sulphur (S) and other elements. Fresh perspectives arise regarding the origin of sulphur at this location—endogenic, volcanic, meteoritic, and more. #Chandrayaan3.”

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

In-situ scientific experiments continue …..

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument onboard the Rover unambiguously confirms the presence of Sulphur (S) in the lunar surface near the south pole, through first-ever in-situ measurements.… pic.twitter.com/vDQmByWcSL
— ISRO (@isro) August 29, 2023

ISRO also released an informative video demonstrating the operational agility of the APXS. The footage showcases the automated hinge mechanism meticulously orienting the 18-cm tall instrument to position its detector head within approximately 5 cm of the lunar surface.

Pragyan Rover Captures Mesmerizing Snapshot of Vikram Lander

The Pragyan rover astounded space enthusiasts by capturing a captivating photograph of the Vikram lander against the backdrop of the Moon’s topography. ISRO’s message conveys the excitement: “Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Say cheese! Pragyan Rover seized an image of the Vikram Lander this morning. The ‘mission image’ originates from the Rover’s Navigation Camera (NavCam), designed by the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS) for Chandrayaan-3.”

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Smile, please!

Pragyan Rover clicked an image of Vikram Lander this morning.

The ‘image of the mission’ was taken by the Navigation Camera onboard the Rover (NavCam).

NavCams for the Chandrayaan-3 Mission are developed by the Laboratory for… pic.twitter.com/Oece2bi6zE
— ISRO (@isro) August 30, 2023

The ISRO tweet continued to narrate the event, resonating with pride: “Transcending boundaries, traversing lunar landscapes: India’s grandeur knows no limits! Once again, fellow explorer Pragyan captures Vikram in a flash. This iconic shot was taken today at around 11 am IST, from a distance of about 15 meters. #Chandrayaan3” Data processed from the NavCams is expertly managed by SAC/ISRO in Ahmedabad.

India achieved a monumental leap as Chandrayaan-3, orchestrated by ISRO, made a triumphant touchdown on the lunar south pole on August 23. This triumph marked a historic milestone, making India the pioneering nation to accomplish this feat. This achievement also put to rest the previous disappointment stemming from the Chandrayaan-2’s crash landing on the Moon’s surface four years prior.