Moon Rover Makes Amazing Discovery While Hunting For Water
With the world working together to come to a better understanding of what’s beyond the Earth, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced (via The Byte), an incredible discovery. With thanks going to its Pragyaan moon rover, the country stated that they’ve discovered a handful of elements on the south pole of the moon’s surface. Among the materials listed are sulfur, iron, calcium, manganese, oxygen, titanium, aluminum, chromium, and silicon.
While the moon rover found a multitude of elements on the moon’s south pole, there’s one missing that the scientists are really hoping to find. That would be hydrogen which would be a monumental step forward when it comes to confirming that there is water ice in the vicinity.
India’s Pragyaan moon rover has discovered a long list of elements on The Moon.
This is, according to ISRO, the “first-ever in-situ measurements” of elements to be discovered on this location of the moon. While scientists have previously known it to be the location of large deposits of water ice, this discovery made by the moon rover changes what we’ve come to expect from the moon’s south pole.
The moon rover harnessed a technology known as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for its finding. The instrument uses extreme measures of heat to target rocks, which, in turn, breaks them down into “extremely hot and localized plasma.” From here, researchers are able to conduct their studies which eventually led to the discovery of the elements.
While the moon rover found a multitude of elements on the moon’s south pole, there’s one missing that the scientists are really hoping to find. That would be hydrogen which would be a monumental step forward when it comes to confirming that there is water ice in the vicinity. And, while the elements may be taking front and center when it comes to the big findings, the rover known as Pragyaan, is also checking out the Moon’s atmosphere to learn more about the possibility of seismic activity.
However, things weren’t all rainbows and sunshine for the moon rover during its incredible expedition. Tragedy came close to striking swhen, just before its elemental discovery, Pragyaan almost found itself at the bottom of a ten-foot crater. Several steps ahead, the dedicated folks at mission control saw the danger coming and steered the little guy out of harm’s way.
With India’s moon rover making such a magnificent and helpful discovery for the scientific community, Russia is sure to be jealous. As we reported recently, the country – perhaps in an attempt to flex its muscles – led a failed attempt to get its space program back up and running. Having not been to the moon in decades, Russia hoped that they’d get back into the space race but with the war in Ukraine continuing, now doesn’t seem to be the time for space exploration.
Tragedy came close to striking swhen, just before its elemental discovery, Pragyaan almost found itself at the bottom of a ten-foot crater.
Meanwhile, India’s moon rover spells a terrific turnaround for the country and its future contributions to our understanding of the world(s) beyond our own. Just four years ago, in 2019, a similar mission went horribly awry with a spacecraft targeting the moon never quite making it. This is certainly an exciting direction for the country to move in as its exploration of space continues.
Back on Earth, it’s a thrilling time to be alive as new discoveries are made not only on the moon but on other planets like Mars. As moon rovers continue to scope out the mysteries, there will undoubtedly be many more findings to come.
