Latest news with #Pragyan
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Study shows Shiva Shakti point ideal for lunar sample collection
BENGALURU: The Shiva Shakti Point, the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 moon lander Vikram, is significant not only as a milestone in India's space achievements but also as a key site for lunar sample collection. This has been confirmed by researchers from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in a recent study. According to scientists, the Chandrayaan-3 landing site offers a promising opportunity to access primitive mantle samples — materials that are notably absent in the current lunar collections obtained by other space agencies. Researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad analysed the presence of volatile elements near the Moon's south polar region. They used the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometers (APXS) onboard the Pragyan rover, as part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Their findings suggest that the site is highly suitable for future missions focused on sample collection and the study of the Moon's evolution. In their study, the scientists compared the elemental abundances measured by the APXS with existing datasets. They observed an unusual depletion of sodium and potassium, along with elevated levels of sulfur in the soil at the landing site. A recent study published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, titled 'Chandrayaan-3 APXS Elemental Abundance Measurements at Lunar High Latitude', also confirmed the presence of primitive lunar mantle materials at the landing site. These materials were likely excavated during the formation of the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin about 4.3 billion years ago and were subsequently redistributed by later impacts on the SPA basin ejecta, the ISRO report stated. The primitive mantle is believed to have contributed to the excess sulfur, which mixed with other materials at the landing site. The low concentrations of sodium and potassium suggest that potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus (KREEP) were likely absent in this region during the SPA basin's formation.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
India, China find ancient moon mantle materials key to early formation
India, China find ancient moon mantle materials key to early formation BENGALURU: In what can be pegged as a crucial finding that would benefit global endeavours returning to the Moon, India's Chandrayaan-3 and China's Chang'e-6 missions have independently discovered primitive lunar mantle materials near the Moon's South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin. The discoveries in two separate studies published in the journal Nature — China's paper was published on April 23, India's on April 25 — point to a growing scientific interest in probing planetary interiors via polar exploration, adding critical pieces to the puzzle of how the Moon, and rocky planets like Earth, formed and evolved. India's findings come from in-situ surface analysis and China's from returned samples. Despite different methodologies, both discoveries provide insight into the Moon's early formation and evolution, highlighting the South Pole region as a treasure trove of lunar history. They point to the SPA basin as a unique site where the Moon's deep history lies exposed. The Indian study by a team of scientists from Isro 's Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) shows how Pragyan, the rover on Chandrayaan-3, detected soil with low sodium and potassium but high sulphur content, suggesting materials from the Moon's deep interior rather than its crust. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo 'The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) aboard Pragyan directly measured the elemental composition of the Moon's surface at an unexplored location, Shiv Shakti station located at 69.37° S, 32.32° E in the southern high-latitude highlands of the nearside of the Moon,' Isro said. Pragyan analysed surface soils in the southern highlands, about 350km from the SPA rim. 'The study has revealed the potential presence of primitive lunar mantle materials at the [Chandrayaan-3] landing site, which was excavated during formation of the SPA,' PRL scientists said. Elaborating further, Isro said that the rover detecting unusually low levels of sodium and potassium, and a distinct enrichment in sulphur points to a chemical profile that diverges from those recorded at previous lunar landing sites. It suggests limited influence from 'KREEP-rich materials' — products of late-stage magma crystallisation. Instead, the data point to a mix of lower crust and upper mantle materials excavated by the ancient SPA impact. The Indian team concluded that the sulphur likely originated from deep within the Moon, possibly as iron sulphide (FeS), and not from external sources such as meteorites. This supports the view that the Chandrayaan-3 site preserves early, unaltered signatures from the Moon's interior. Meanwhile, China's mission has returned samples containing rare magnesian olivine grains with high nickel concentrations, representing the most primitive mantle materials ever recovered. As per the study based on samples returned from the Chang'e-6 mission, which landed within the SPA basin, some of the grains, with nickel concentrations up to 682 parts per million, are said to represent the most primitive mantle materials yet recovered. Their composition matches model predictions for the earliest olivines crystallised from the lunar magma ocean. Researchers suggest these mantle fragments were brought to the surface by ascending high-magnesium lavas and preserved in the SPA basin's impact-shattered crust. As per the study, the olivines' oxygen isotope ratios align with the terrestrial fractionation line, confirming their lunar origin. Their high magnesium and nickel levels distinguish them from previously known crustal rocks and suggest a direct link to early mantle differentiation.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Potential presence of primitive lunar mantle materials on Chandrayaan-3 landing site: Study
A new study by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has found the potential presence of primitive lunar mantle materials, which is likely to have been formed during the formation of the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin 4.3 billion years ago, at the Chandrayaan-3 landing site. SPA basin is one of the Moon's largest and oldest impact features in the solar system. The Chandrayaan-3 landing site is located 350kms from the basin. Researchers said the findings, published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment on Wednesday, could aid in the study of the early evolution of the Moon. Analysing the concentrations of volatiles (chemical elements and compounds) measured by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), an instrument on-board the Pragyan rover at Shiv Shakti statio near the South Polar Region, the 12-member team found high levels of sulphur at the Chandrayaan-3 highland landing site in the range of 900-1400 ppm, which was 300-500 ppm (parts per million) higher than in soil samples from lunar highlands from in Apollo 16 and Luna 20 missions. However, the levels of sodium and potassium from the Chandrayaan-3 landing site was found to be much lower at 700-2800ppm and 300-400 ppm respectively as compared to the earlier missions. The APXS experiment was designed and developed by PRL, a unit of the department of space. Researchers said the differences in the concentrations of these volatile elements as compared to those found in Apollo 16 and Luna 20 missions make it important to investigate the probable source that led to their enrichment or depletion at the Chandrayaan-3 landing site. Explaining how the team arrived at the present conclusion, Rishitosh K Sinha, lead author of the study said that on the Moon, around 400-1000 ppm of sulphur can come from Type I carbonaceous chondrite (CC) meteorites crashing on the lunar surface. 'However, this is still less by 200-400 ppm than what APXS measured at the landing site. Moreover, the surface temperatures at the landing site, which is located at 70 degrees south in the Southern Polar region, is much higher for sulphur to condense in the plume as compared to if the site was closer (85-90 degrees) to the South Pole,' said Sinha. Closer to the South Pole, where surface temperatures are lower, sulphur can condense into solid form. Therefore, said Sinha, there had to be another source of sulphur that increased its concentration at the landing site. 'The other possible source for excess sulphur therefore would be the primitive lunar mantle material that would have thrown up during the SPA basin formation.' He further explained that the low levels of sodium and potassium at the Chandrayaan-3 landing site as opposed to the Apollo 16 and Luna 20 missions suggests that potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus (called KREEP) might not have existed at the place and time of SPA basin formation. 'This new finding therefore makes the Chandrayaan-3 landing site a promising site to access primitive mantle samples, which is otherwise lacking in the existing lunar collections,' said Sinha. Sinha said during the end of the lunar magma ocean (LMO) crystallisation stages, when the Moon's initial molten state solidified, the residual molten layer became enriched in a mineral called Troilite (FeS). 'We have proposed that the SPA basin impact event excavated this FeS from the sulphur-enriched primitive lunar mantle, while the KREEP layer was still in the process of formation. The subsequent impacts on the SPA basin ejecta stirred things up, mixing sulfur-rich materials from the SPA basin with the nearby material at the landing site,' he said. On August 23, 2023, the Chandrayaan-3 mission made the first successful landing in the South Polar region of the Moon following which APXS directly measured the elemental composition of the Moon's surface at Shiv Shakti statio, an unexplored location, in the southern high-latitude highlands of the nearside of the Moon. Last year, a study published in Nature by the same group had found evidence of high magnesium in the soil at the same landing site that could have originated from the deeper layers of the Moon. It provided clues for the presence of lower crust and/or upper mantle materials at the landing site. 'High magnesium also comes from the mantle. With evidence of high concentrations of sulphur now, the present study becomes robust since it complements the previous study.' Anil Bhardwaj, Director PRL, also a co-author in this study, said that finding primitive mantle material is important because Apollo and Luna missions only comprised collections of lunar samples. 'We really don't have samples from the lunar mantle. These samples are crucial to understand how the Moon was formed, what connection does it have with the Earth, presence and proportion of volatile elements in the lunar interior and how it evolved over time,' said Bhardwaj. Commenting on the significance of the study, Rajesh VJ, professor, department of earth and space sciences at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, who was not involved with the study, said, the primitive mantle material from any planetary bodies is significant, as it provides vital information about the chemical composition of the early materials (rocks/minerals) present towards the deeper part (especially the mantle), before it underwent any sort of petrological modifications. Hence, these materials are used by geoscientists to understand the origin and early evolution of a planetary body. 'The discovery of sulphur-rich primitive mantle materials provides a rare opportunity for planetary scientists to conduct detailed investigations of the early evolution of the Moon. It provides the scientific community with more vital information about the composition of the lunar interior and its volatile contents,' he said.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Potential presence of primitive lunar mantle material at landing site: Study
The Shiv Shakti point, where the world's first lunar landing was facilitated by India's Chandrayaan 3 in 2023, could hold a promising potential site for scientists to study the most primitive mantle samples on the lunar surface. The Shiv Shakti point is located at the southern high-latitude highlands of the nearside of the Moon. Scientists from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) used data gathered by Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer onboard the Pragyan rover. They compared metal remnants and elemental concentrations of sulfur, potassium, sodium among others at the Shiv Shakti point where Chandra-yaan 3 landed on August 23, 2023. Sulfur, potassium and sodium can give insights into the mantle composition and chemistry. 'There is an anomalous depletion in sodium and potassium at the site, whereas there is an enrichment in sulfur found in the soils at the highland landing site,' said the study published in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment. Detailing its significance and the plausible reasons for both depletion and abundance of certain metals, the researchers said, 'There is a potential presence of primitive lunar mantle materials at the landing site, which was excavated during formation of the South Pole-Aitken basin, around 4.3 Ga (billion years) ago and may have got redistributed by subsequent impacts on the SPA basin ejecta. While the primitive mantle contributed to the excess sulfur, it later got mixed up with the materials at the landing site,' the paper noted. The South Pole-Aitken basin is one of the largest known impact craters on the lunar surface. The low levels of sodium and potassium at the Shiv Shakti point, the researchers said, could suggest that these elements may not have originally existed at the place and time of the very formation of the SPA basin. The variations in the elemental concentrations revealed by Chandrayaan 3 data has overturned findings made by previous lunar missions — the Apollo 16 and Luna 20 by the US and the Soviets, respectively. According to the PRL team, Chandrayaan 3 data noted the concentration of sulfur to be 300-500 parts per million higher than in soils gathered by the above missions. The Indian team is studying this anomalous difference in the concentrations and trace the causes at the landing site.
