The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Tuesday that the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) in Chandrayaan-3s Pragyan rover has provided the first-ever in-situ measurements confirming the presence of sulphur on the Moons surface near the South Pole.ISRO revealed that the spectroscope on the Pragyan rover also identified other elements, including Aluminium, Calcium, Iron, Chromium, Titanium, Manganese, Silicon, and Oxygen, while the search for hydrogen on the lunar surface is currently underway.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, 2023In a statement on social media, ISRO elaborated, “Preliminary analyses, graphically represented, have unveiled the presence of Aluminum (Al), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr), and Titanium (Ti) on the lunar surface. Further measurements have revealed the presence of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O). Thorough investigation regarding the presence of Hydrogen is underway.”The LIBS instrument, responsible for these findings, was developed at the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS)/ISRO, located in Bengaluru, the space agency added.Pragyan found Moon crater: ISRO shares regular Chandrayaan-3 updateThese recent developments follow ISROs statement that the Pragyan rover was en route to uncover more secrets of the moon. The rover was deployed from the Vikram lander after the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the Lunar South Pole on August 23.ISRO also shared a video on August 26 showing the Pragyan rover exploring the Shiv Shakti Point, the landing site of Chandrayaan 3. The agency posted on X, “Chandrayaan-3 Mission: Whats new here Pragyan rover roams around Shiv Shakti Point in pursuit of lunar secrets at the South Pole.”Further updates from ISRO revealed that on August 27, the Pragyan rover encountered a four-meter diameter crater positioned three meters ahead of its location on the lunar surface. The rover was instructed to retrace its path and is now proceeding along a new route.
