It didn't take long for <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s Chandrayaan-3 mission to make waves after its momentous soft-landing on the <keyword id="42440" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="moon" source="Orion">Moon</keyword>. In a matter of days, scientists found themselves pondering the causes of the newly discovered enigmatic moonquakes and overheating occurrences on the lunar surface. However, one revelation, in particular, had researchers brimming with anticipation: the unearthing of <keyword id="4417611" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sulphur" source="Orion">sulphur</keyword>. Scientists were aware of the existence of sulphur deposits on the Moon, but they were considered too scant to be of much use. However, this recent discovery turned that assumption on its head. If you were to examine images of the Moon, you'd notice patches of dark and white covering its entire surface. The dark areas consist of volcanic rock, which typically contains higher concentrations of sulphur compared to the white "highlands" material. Volcanic activity causes sulphur-rich rocks deep within the Moon to melt, and they later surface as magma, which eventually cools to form these dark regions. During this process, some of this sulphur inadvertently escapes into the Moon's thin atmosphere. Scientists believe that this sulphur would eventually have made its way to the lunar poles, where the frigid temperatures, dropping as low as -230°C due to the lack of consistent direct sunlight, would cause the element to solidify on the surface. This theory of condensation could explain why the Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer and the LIBS instruments on Chandrayaan-3's <keyword id="7723302" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pragyan-rover" source="Orion">Pragyan Rover</keyword> detected sulphur near the landing site. Further calibration will be necessary to confirm the findings, but initial data suggests that sulphur levels in this area might be significantly higher than those in the volcanic rock near the lunar equator. Planetary scientist Jeffrey Gillis-Davis suggests that the mysterious concentrations of polar sulphur could also have resulted from ancient volcanic eruptions in the region. Meteorites carrying sulphur might have transported substantial amounts of the element when they collided with the Moon in the past. Sulphur holds great promise for a variety of applications in Moon exploration and potential habitation. Given the challenges and expenses of shuttling between <keyword id="6359982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="earth" source="Orion">Earth</keyword> and the Moon, not to mention the risks involved, having access to abundant local resources can be a literal lifesaver! Jeffrey proposes that scientists could use sulphur to create waterless concrete for building Moon bases and produce sulphur-based solar cells, batteries, and even fertilisers for potential farming operations. The limited water we transport to our lunar neighbour could then be redirected for essential purposes like producing drinking water, breathable oxygen, and rocket fuel. Despite the challenges faced by Chandrayaan-3's <keyword id="7864315" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vikram-lander" source="Orion">Vikram Lander</keyword> and Pragyan Rover in reactivating from their planned slumber, the data gathered by this historic spacecraft is invaluable and is sure to benefit all future lunar missions. When mainstream society eventually takes the inevitable leap to the Moon, they will have ISRO to thank for these groundbreaking discoveries.

Lunar bounty: Chandrayaan-3's sulphur discovery could help us get much closer to building Moon colonies

New Delhi, What was known in theory has now been confirmed twice. The Chandrayaan-3 mission has authenticated the presence of sulphur on the lunar south pole region after on site tests, a historical first that could provide clues to the origins of the Moon and also have profound significance for space exploration, say scientists. On Thursday, India's space agency ISRO said the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectroscope (APXS) instrument onboard the Pragyan rover confirmed the presence of sulphur and some other elements in the lunar south. Before that, on Tuesday, ISRO announced that another instrument, the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS), found sulphur in the region. In line with expectations, ISRO also reported the LIBS instrument had detected aluminium, calcium, iron, chromium, titanium, manganese, silicon and oxygen. "The elements found on the Moon are not merely isolated compounds. They are time capsules carrying the whispers of cosmic history. Such findings not only reshape our comprehension of lunar formations but also offer potential prospects for lunar exploration and habitation," Akash Sinha, who was involved in developing software for the Pragyan rover, told PTI. "One prevailing theory is that the sulphur may be trapped within water ice, implying that we might be on the brink of a monumental discovery: the physical presence of water ice on the moon," the professor of practice at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence in Delhi-NCR added. An old undated document from the US space agency NASA suggested the potential utilisation of sulphur for making lunar bricks or concrete using it with moon soil. Interestingly, China's reported plans to test printing bricks from lunar soil this decade for constructing a permanent moon base align with this idea. The revelation of sulphur's presence might hold clues to the Moon's composition and its volcanic past, scientists said. "Surface sulphur comes from volcanic activity, indicating heavy volcanism at some point in the Moon's history. However, the detection is from only one spot, so we need more data to gain a clearer picture," said T V Venkateswaran, a scientist at Vigyaan Prasar, an autonomous organisation under the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Sinha added that the discovery of sulphur represents a significant breakthrough in the understanding of lunar geology. "The presence of sulphur, especially in an area where volcanic activity-a common source of sulphur-is notably absent opens up intriguing possibilities about the origins of the Moon," he said. According to astrophysicist Sandip Chakrabarti, the in-situ measurements definitively confirm sulphur's presence in the region, a feat beyond the capabilities of the instruments on the previous Chandrayaan 1 and 2 orbiters. "The compositions show abundant lighter metals such as aluminium and also abundant sulphur and iron. Sulphur could come from lunar volcanoes. Only traces of heavy metals such as titanium, and chromium, were found. These are along the expected lines," Chakrabarti, director of the Indian Center for Space Physics in Kolkata, told PTI. These elements, he explained, aren't in their pure form and would need processing for future extraction. "The discoveries made by Chandrayaan-3 hold vast implications for lunar exploration. Beyond the allure of space travel, the presence of these elements paints a vivid picture of the Moon's character," Chakrabarti reflected. Experts also believe that aluminium's lightweight strength could become a resource for future missions, potentially transforming the Moon into a launchpad for further space exploration. Calcium's critical role in biological processes could fuel discussions about the Moon's potential as a scientific research hub. Chakrabarti expressed his enthusiasm for Pragyan's contribution. "It is indeed heartening that Pragyan is actually sending the composition of the topsoil of the landing area, namely, Shiv-Shakti point." He also highlighted the need for helium, hydrogen and water for future space travel, survival and power generation. "Right now, we are concentrating on survival on the Moon and not getting richer," he added. ISRO has initiated a thorough investigation into the presence of hydrogen. Venkateswaran, who is also a member of the outreach committee of the Astronomical Society of India, emphasised the rover's role in confirming a finding from Chandrayaan-1 about hydrogen particles reflected by the Moon's surface in 2008. "We do need to see water in any of its forms and hydrogen. That would be a genuine achievement," Chakrabarti added. Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar south pole on August 23, making India the first country to land on the uncharted surface.

Chandrayaan's detection of sulphur, other elements will help unveil Moon's mysteries, say experts

<ul><li>According to the space agency, the kick start gives enthusiasm for lunar sample return in the future and also for manned missions to the moon. </li><li><keyword id="6358064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro" source="Orion">ISRO</keyword> said, the rover has found the presence of oxygen, aluminum, sulphur and other materials near the lunar south pole.</li><li> India on August 23 reached the Moon with its lander safely landing on the lunar soil in a text book style.</li></ul> According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), <keyword id="1091" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vikram" source="Orion">Vikram</keyword> <keyword id="18647434" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="soft-landed" source="Orion">soft landed</keyword> on the lunar soil for a second time. In a post on social media platform X, ISRO said: "Vikram Lander exceeded its mission objectives. It successfully underwent a hop experiment." "On command, it fired the engines, elevated itself by about 40 cm as expected and landed safely at a distance of 30 - 40 cm away." According to the space agency, the kick start gives enthusiasm for lunar sample return in the future and also for manned missions to the moon. The Chandrayaan-3 mission's lander is named after Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971), who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme. "All systems performed nominally and are healthy. Deployed Ramp, ChaSTE and ILSA were folded back and redeployed successfully after the experiment," ISRO said. Sometime back, the Indian space agency uploaded the video Pragyan moving on the social media platform X and said: "It feels as though a child is playfully frolicking in the yards of Chandamama, while the mother watches affectionately. Isn't it?" Now perhaps with the playful kid going to sleep the mother is hopping around! Later the rover rolled down and started doing experiments. ISRO said, the rover has found the presence of oxygen, aluminium, sulphur and other materials near the lunar south pole, while investigation regarding the presence of hydrogen is underway. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The historic moon landing on August 23" comment="subhead" text="The historic moon landing on August 23">The historic moon landing on August 23 </cmsannotation> India on August 23 reached the moon with its lander safely landing on the lunar soil in a textbook style becoming the first country to land a spacecraft near the South pole of the moon.The ₹600 crore Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched on July 14 onboard Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rocket, for a 41-day voyage to reach near the lunar south pole. Polar regions of the moon are a very different terrain due to the environment and the difficulties they present and therefore have remained unexplored. All the previous spacecraft to have reached the Moon landed in the equatorial region, a few degrees latitude north or south of the lunar equator. The Moon's South pole region is also being explored because there could be a possibility of presence of water in permanently shadowed areas around it.

India's moon lander Vikram soft lands on the moon for the second time: ISRO

<ul class="summary-list"><li>India's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moon-cube-discovered-by-chinese-rover-is-just-a-rock-2022-1">moon rover</a> made its first scientific observation near the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-moon-landings-on-lunar-south-pole-crashed-2023-8">lunar south pole</a>.</li><li>The 57-pound rover is called Pragyaan — a Hindu name meaning one who possesses wisdom.</li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/watch-india-attempt-first-ever-moon-landing-2023-8">India made history</a> by becoming the first country to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-plans-send-humans-to-moon-celebrates-lunar-probe-success-2023-8">land successfully</a> near the lunar south pole. And its lunar rover wasted no time in rolling out to make its first scientific observations. On Tuesday, the Indian Space Research Organization announced on its website that the moon rover had <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/LIBSResults.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> the presence of sulphur. And preliminary analyses also suggest the presence of aluminum, calcium, iron, chromium, and titanium. Suffice it to say, the rover's been busy. This adorable rover is called Pragyaan — a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oppenheimer-famous-quote-become-death-destroyer-worlds-from-hindu-scripture-2023-7">Hindu</a> name meaning one who possesses greater knowledge and wisdom.Pragyaan weighs 57 pounds, about the size of a small German shepherd or bull terrier, and it's spending two weeks driving <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-moon-landings-on-lunar-south-pole-crashed-2023-8">where no robot or human has been before</a>.Pragyaan's science could be critical for learning how to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-scientists-discover-moons-hidden-water-stores-2020-10">mine moon water</a> — a goal every moon-minded nation is eyeing.The rover may be small and cute, but India's new moon mission "definitely puts them on the international stage as an emerging space power," Robert Braun, head of space exploration at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, told Insider.<h2>What will India's moon rover do next?</h2>It's equipped with a laser and an alpha-particle beam to help it study the composition of the lunar south pole region, which is of particular interest.<div type="image" title="Image of India's moon lander and rover in lab on Earth." height="483" width="725" msid="102996626" hostid="261"></div>The lunar south pole is thought to be the most <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/moon-south-pole-has-more-than-water-according-to-nasa-scientists/articleshow/70356565.cms">water-rich region on the moon</a>. That's critical since water ice could be mined to produce breathable oxygen for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-artemis-humans-to-live-moon-by-2030-says-official-2022-11">future crewed lunar bases</a>, as well as hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel that could propel <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/buzz-aldrin-moon-should-be-launch-pad-for-mars-2018-6">future missions to Mars</a> and beyond.The rover will also use its RAMBHA and ILSA payloads on board to study the lunar atmosphere as well as dig up samples for additional analysis of the surface's composition, per <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/chandrayaan-3-rover-will-leave-a-mark-of-india-on-moon-surface/articleshow/101765194.cms?from=mdr">Times of India</a>.But it was the rover's Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument that ultimately made the first-ever measurements of the lunar south pole region's composition, ISRO reported. The laser fires intense pulses at the lunar surface, which generates an extremely hot plasma.That's where a trick of physics comes in handy: Each element on the periodic table emits a unique set of wavelengths of light. Scientists can study the light from the plasma to identify those wavelength sets and determine the chemical make-up of the stuff on the moon.<h2>A moment for the history books</h2>India is the fourth country — after Russia, the US, and China — to land on the moon."It's a huge achievement for the whole nation," Braun said. "Last time they got to the playoffs, if you will, and this time they won the Super Bowl.""Everyone in the space community is joining with the nation of India, and their talented engineers and scientists, and celebrating their success and this achievement," he added.Correction: August 28, 2023 — An earlier version of this article misstated Robert Braun's title. He is head of space exploration at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, not head of a Space Exploration Center there. This story has been updated. It was originally published on August 23, 2023.Editor's note September 1, 2023: This article has been updated to clarify that India's spacecraft landed in the lunar south pole region, not on the point of the lunar south pole.

India's adorable, dog-sized moon rover did its first science on the moon by shooting powerful laser beams at the surface

<ul class="summary-list"><li>India's moon lander detected an "event" on the lunar surface that could be evidence of a moonquake.</li><li>The last time a moonquake was detected was in the 1970s, during NASA's Apollo missions.</li></ul>In August, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/watch-india-attempt-first-ever-moon-landing-2023-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India made history</a> when its uncrewed Vikram lander touched down near the lunar south pole, making it the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-counts-down-crucial-moon-landing-2023-08-23/">fourth country</a> to softly land a spacecraft on the moon's surface.Now, the many instruments on board the lander and its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-moon-rover-to-collect-first-samples-lunar-south-pole-2023-8">adorable Pragyan moon rover</a> are helping scientists understand the moon's south pole region better than ever before. Pragyan recently confirmed the presence of sulphur in the region. And Vikram has detected rumblings underfoot that could be evidence of a moonquake, <a href="https://www.livescience.com/space/the-moon/indias-lunar-lander-finds-1st-evidence-of-a-moonquake-in-decades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Live Science reported</a>.On August 26, three days after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-india-moon-landing-cost-cheap-compared-to-nasa-russia-2023-8">landing on the moon</a>, the Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) payload on Vikram detected an "event," the Indian Space Research Organization said in a <a href="https://www.isro.gov.in/Ch3_ILSA_Listens_Landing_Site.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. ILSA is designed to pick up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/its-been-47-years-since-we-made-our-1st-footprints-on-the-moon-here-are-some-facts-you-might-not-know-about-it-2016-7">vibrations on the lunar surface</a> generated by natural quakes, impacts, and artificial events.The "event" was significantly more powerful than the vibrations ILSA had detected from the Pragyan rover's movement nearby, according to ISRO. "The source of this event is currently under investigation," ISRO said in the statement. If the event is confirmed to be a moonquake, it would be the first detected on the lunar surface since the 1970s — when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/every-nasa-apollo-mission-in-history-explained-2018-12">NASA's Apollo missions</a> first studied seismic activity on the moon and detected <a href="https://moon.nasa.gov/resources/13/apollo-11-seismic-experiment/">moonquakes</a>.A moonquake would suggest that the moon isn't just some big, dense space rock — there's actually more going on under its surface than meets the eye. The solar-powered Vikram lander and its rover have gone to sleep for the duration of the 14-day night on the part of the moon they're located, per ISROBut pending "a successful awakening" later this month, the devices will resume their historic mission, <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1698010732128764164?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ISRO wrote on X</a>.

India's moon lander detected movement near the lunar south pole. It could be the first signs of a moonquake in nearly 50 years.

<ul><li>A new study indicates that there might be <keyword id="119992" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="precious-metals">precious metals</keyword> under the lunar surface where there is excess sulphur on the surface.</li><li>In order to confirm their findings, the lead author believes "the South Pole seem like a good choice for sampling."</li><li><keyword id="414120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan-2">Chandrayaan 2</keyword> won't be bringing any samples back to Earth but determining possible regions where sulphur can be found could hold clues for when India does send humans to the Moon.</li></ul>Chandrayaan 2 is inching close to the Moon's South Pole, and India hopes to be the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-puts-india-on-moon-south-pole-ahead-of-america-russia-china/articleshow/70212854.cms">first country</a> to land on its cratered surface. India's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-why-indias-isro-is-going-to-the-moon/articleshow/69893150.cms">Moon mission</a> will scan the lunar surface for clues about its composition. And, that unlock what's inside — like precious metals, according to a new study published in <a href="https://astronomycommunity.nature.com/users/290716-james-brenan/posts/52411-abundance-of-highly-siderophile-elements-in-lunar-basalts-controlled-by-iron-sulfide-melt">Nature GeoScience.</a> Geologists believe that since there are similarities between the Earth and the Moon, the composition of mineral deposits found on the planet could be parallel to what might be found on the natural satellite. "Examination of mineral deposits on Earth suggests that iron sulfide is a great place to store precious metals, like platinum and palladium," stated <a href="https://www.dal.ca/news/2019/08/26/moon-metals--new-research-suggests-precious-metals-may-lie-below.html">James Brenan</a>, the lead author of the paper. And, in order to confirm his findings, "the South pole seems like a good choice for sampling". How will Chandrayaan 2 help? The primary objective of the mission is to build on Chandrayaan 1's discovery of water on the Moon. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-india-moon-mission-14-high-tech-instruments-to-look-for-water/articleshow/69867398.cms">high tech instruments</a> aboard the lander, Vikram, and the rover, Pragyan, will analyse the elemental composition of the Moon. Scientists are hoping that the information will help them find out more about other elements as well — like where there may find more Sulphur. "We have been able to link the Sulfur content of lunar volcanic rocks to the presence of iron sulfide deep inside the moon," said Brenan. "Our results show that sulfur in lunar volcanic rocks is a fingerprint for the presence of iron sulfide in the rocky interior of the moon, which is where we think the precious metals were left behind when the lavas were created," he added. Looking for sulphur Scientists have been able to scour the Earth for years but only have 400 kilograms of lunar samples that have been brought back from Apollo and other lunar missions. "So, in order to find anything about the interior of the Moon, we have to kind of reverse engineer the composition of the lavas that come onto the surface," said Brenan. Brenan thinks that the next step for their study is to get samples from the deep, rocky part of the moon where the lunar lavas originated to in order to confirm their theory. That's exactly where Chandrayaan 2 is heading. It won't be bringing any samples back even though "the South Pole seems like a good choice for sampling," but its findings could hold clues for where to hunt when humans finally do return to the Moon. China's lunar rover, Yutu 2 — nicknamed the Jade Rabbit — is already on its way to finding new materials on the Moon. It's the first mission to explore the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-race-to-become-the-next-space-superpower-lands-china-on-the-dark-side-of-the-moon/articleshow/67364186.cms">far side of the Moon</a> and reportedly spotted a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chinas-lunar-rover-does-what-indias-chandrayaan-2-is-hoping-to-do-on-the-moons-south-pole/articleshow/70942638.cms">‘gel-like' substance</a> in one of the Moon's craters, according to the China National Space Administration. Vikram has already <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-lunar-lander-vikram-has-broken-away-from-the-chandrayaan-2-spacecraft-/articleshow/70945426.cms">detached from the orbiter</a> and is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-enters-moons-orbit-play-by-play-of-how-it-happened/articleshow/70751884.cms">on its way to the Moon</a>. It will attempt to soft land near the Moon's South Pole on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/why-chandrayaan-2-will-take-7-weeks-to-reach-moon/articleshow/70346159.cms">7 September 2019</a>. This will be the "15 most terrifying minutes" for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) according its Chairman, K Sivan. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-chandrayaan-2-is-landmark-moon-mission-for-india/articleshow/69842571.cms">India's second moon mission Chandrayaan 2 that will cost ₹10 billion will break new records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chinas-lunar-rover-does-what-indias-chandrayaan-2-is-hoping-to-do-on-the-moons-south-pole/articleshow/70942638.cms">China's lunar rover does what India's Chandrayaan 2 is hoping to do on the Moon's South Pole</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/why-chandrayaan-2-will-take-7-weeks-to-reach-moon/articleshow/70346159.cms">Here's why it's going to take 7 weeks for Chandrayaan 2 to reach the Moon</a>

Chandrayaan 2 is not just looking for water on the moon

Washington, Katherine Johnson, a woman mathematician who was one of NASA's human "computers" and inspiration for the acclaimed movie "Hidden Figures", passed away on Monday. She was 101. Johnson calculated the flight path for the first space mission of the US and the first moon landing. In a statement, NASA Administrator James Bridenstine said: "Our NASA family is sad to learn the news that Katherine Johnson passed away this morning at 101 years old. She was an <keyword id="6377040" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="American">American</keyword> hero and her pioneering legacy will never be forgotten." Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1918, her intense curiosity and brilliance with numbers vaulted her ahead several grades in school. By 13, she was attending the high school on the campus of historically black West Virginia State College. At 18, she enrolled in the college itself, where she made quick work of the school's math curriculum and found a mentor in math professor W.W. <keyword id="8826967" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="schieffelin-claytor">Schieffelin Claytor</keyword>, the third African American to earn a PhD in mathematics. She graduated with highest honours in 1937 and took a job teaching at a black public school in Virginia. The 1957 launch of the <keyword id="78455" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="soviet">Soviet</keyword> satellite Sputnik changed history - and Johnson's life. In 1957, she provided some of the math for the 1958 document "Notes on Space Technology". Engineers from those groups formed the core of the <keyword id="8826968" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Space-Task-Group">Space Task Group</keyword>, the NACA's first official foray into space travel. Johnson, who had worked with many of them since coming to Langley, "came along with the programme" as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) became NASA later that year. She did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard's May 1961 mission Freedom 7, America's first human spaceflight. "I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed a anything that could be counted, I did," said Johnson, recipient of the 2015 National Medal of Freedom. Asked to name her greatest contribution to space exploration, Johnson would talk about the calculations that helped synch Project Apollo's Lunar Module with the lunar-orbiting Command and Service Module. She also worked on the Space Shuttle and the Earth Resources Satellite (later renamed Landsat) and authored or coauthored 26 research reports. She retired in 1986, after 33 years at Langley. "I loved going to work every single day," she said. In 2015, at age 97, Johnson added another extraordinary achievement to her long list: President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour.

NASA's human computer who inspired the movie 'Hidden Figures' Katherine Johnson passes away

Chennai, <keyword id="6358064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro" source="Orion">ISRO</keyword> has lined up a series of exploration missions including to Mars, Venus and to the Moon again, apart from the maiden human spaceflight programme, Chairman <keyword id="2618685" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="s-somanath" source="Orion">S Somanath</keyword> said. The space agency also has drawn up plans to launch missions for studying climate and weather conditions of the Earth, the space agency chief said, speaking to reporters on Sunday. Besides, ISRO is also working on regular scientific missions including communication, remote sensing satellites, Somanath, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Space, said here. Speaking about the Gaganyaan programme, he said the maiden TV-D1 test flight is scheduled for October 21. Elaborating about the upcoming missions undertaken by the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency, he said, "We have exploration missions. We have plans to go to Mars, Venus, again sometime to the Moon. We also have programmes to look at the climate and weather of Earth." Stressing that the scientists at ISRO would be focused on taking up regular missions like launching satellites for communications and remote sensing, he said scientific missions are also in the pipeline to look at issues like aeronomy, thermal imaging, and climate change impact assessment. "So many things are there and we are very busy doing all of this," he said. To a query about whether scientists were able to receive any kind of response from the Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, which successfully made a soft-landing on the surface of the Moon on August 23, he said Vikram had done its job very well during the lunar day (equivalent of 14 Earth days) at which time it was programmed to perform its functions. "It is happily sleeping on the Moon. It has done its job very well. Maybe if it wishes to wake up, let it wake up. Until then, we will wait," he said. ISRO made efforts to re-establish communication with rover Pragyan and lander Vikram after they were put into sleep mode in September following the onset of night on the Moon. "No signals have been received from them. Efforts to establish contact will continue," ISRO had said. After the historic landing on August 23, lander Vikram and rover Pragyan performed different tasks on the lunar surface, including detecting the presence of sulphur and recording relative temperature. About ISRO's maiden mission to study the Sun, Somanath said the spacecraft is 'very healthy' and is on a 110-day long journey to the Lagrange point L1 and is expected to reach the intended destination by "middle of January." "It is a long journey. It is almost 110 days of journey and it has covered some distance now. We corrected a little bit of its trajectory, because early correction is important to reach the L1 point. After tracking, we find it is going in the right direction towards the L1 point," he said. Observing that the rocket is on a 'complex travel', Somanath said, "It takes almost another 70-75 days further to reach. By the middle of January, it will reach there. After that, we will make some corrections to make it enter into the Halo orbit at the L1 point." "After that instruments will be switched on and it will start doing the scientific data streaming. Currently, everything is very healthy on Aditya L1," he said. Aditya-L1 was launched on September 2, and it is the first Indian space-based observatory that will study the Sun from a halo orbit around the first <keyword id="19149915" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sun-earth-lagrangian" source="Orion">Sun-Earth Lagrangian</keyword> point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from the Earth. Earlier, Somanath visited the residence of renowned agricultural scientist <keyword id="86797" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="m-s-swaminathan" source="Orion">M S Swaminathan</keyword>, who passed away on September 28. He met the family members of the eminent plant geneticist known as the driving force behind India's 'Green Revolution', here in the city. "I am here today just to pay my tributes and my affection to his (M S Swaminathan's) contribution... Whoever works in whichever field whether it is space, agriculture or sustainability and many other domains, we all find a place to work together," he said. "Thank you so much for the opportunity. His (M S Swaminathan's) legacy will continue to inspire more young people in the country to work in science and technology." Somanath said.

ISRO 'very busy' with various exploration missions in pipeline: Chairman

<keyword id="6358064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro" source="Orion">ISRO</keyword> Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said he sees substantial potential in the Indian space during its 'Amritkaal', particularly in the application, services, and manufacturing domain. "When we reach our Amritkaal, the share of our economy in space will be substantially higher and it will come out in the secondary and tertiary sectors, and not by building rockets and satellites but by building applications, services, and manufacturing in India," Somanath said addressing the 50th national management convention of All India Management Association (AIMA). He cited examples such as hyperlocal weather update services, map services, remote sensing, and communication applications, among others which have tremendous use cases. "For this, we are creating the right ecosystem," the ISRO chief added. S Somanath assumed the charge of Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission on January 14, 2022 By 2047, the Indian <keyword id="9462187" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-economy" source="Orion">space economy</keyword> is expected to be 1.8 per cent of its total GDP at USD 0.7 trillion. Emerging trends in the space sector include mining rare metals and minerals, space real estate, and made-in-space products. Stressing the need for an able talent pool, Somanath noted that ISRO is working with various institutions as part of its capacity-building program. "We are working with various institutions for the talent pool. ISRO is only a builder of the system to generate science outcomes out of it. We need laboratories, universities, and institutions that have great scientists who will make sense of the data," he asserted. "We continuously interact with institutions like IITs, IISERs, and research laboratories in this country to create a talent pool." He added that ISRO also collaborates with most of the nations in the world and has 60+ MoUs with various nations. Asked how ISRO makes <keyword id="423471" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cost-effective" source="Orion">cost-effective</keyword> space technologies and solutions, he said it is in the organisation's culture. "Cost control is in the culture of the organisation...the organisation itself does not allow you to exceed cost." Somanath said re-usage of hardware is another way how save cost. Further, on private participation in space, he said there are a huge amount of business opportunities opening up in the space sector private entrepreneurs can scale up their activities substantially. He said it would not be possible for the government to all the future space programs. Meanwhile, the <keyword id="7864315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vikram-lander" source="Orion">Vikram lander</keyword> and the Pragyan rover of <keyword id="8011274" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chandrayaan-3" source="Orion">Chandrayaan-3</keyword>, who went into "sleep mode" near the Moon's South Pole after having completed their set tasks, were expected to awake on Friday (September 22). "Efforts have been made to establish communication with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to ascertain their wake-up condition. As of now, no signals have been received from them. Efforts to establish contact will continue," ISRO had said as it failed to awaken the modules on September 22. India took a giant leap as the Chandrayaan-3 lander module successfully landed on the moon's South Pole on August 23, making it the first country to have achieved the historic feat and bringing to an end the disappointment over the crash landing of the Chandrayaan-2, four years ago. After having landed, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover performed different sets of tasks on the lunar surface for about 14 days, including finding the presence of sulphur and other minor elements, recording relative temperature, and listening to movements around it. One day on the Moon is equal to 14 days on Earth.

ISRO chief sees potential in space sector beyond just building rockets, satellites

<ul><li>"Urge you all to watch the special moments of Chandrayaan-2 descending on to the Lunar South pole": tweeted PM Modi</li><li><keyword id="414120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chandrayaan-2">Chandrayaan 2</keyword>’s lander, Vikram will attempt to soft land near the Moon’s South Pole between 1:30 am and 2:30 am on 7 September 2019. </li><li>Interestingly, Chandrayaan 2 is not just looking for water on the moon. Read Business Insider India to find out more. </li></ul>Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> might help you get some followers, likes and retweets on <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword>. Oh no, he is not endorsing your ‘gyaan’ on life, but definitely acknowledging your valued thoughts on Chandrayaan2 - one of India’s most historic lunar missions. Taking to Twitter, PM said, “I urge you all to watch the special moments of Chandrayaan - 2 descending on to the Lunar South Pole! Do share your photos on social media. I will re-tweet some of them too.” 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="14928" retweetcount="3146" status="I urge you all to watch the special moments of Chandrayaan - 2 descending on to the Lunar South Pole! Do share your… https://t.co/PhYdWVY2qv" createdat="1567755813000" id="1169878791360925697"></div>



 PM Modi will be watching Chandrayaan 2’s descent on the Moon with youngsters from the <keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword> Centre in Bengaluru. “The youngsters with whom I will watch the special moments from the ISRO Centre in Bengaluru are those bright minds who won the ISRO Space Quiz on MyGov. The large scale participation in this Quiz showcases the interest of the youth in science and space. This is a great sign!” 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="3866" retweetcount="744" status="The youngsters with whom I will watch the special moments from the ISRO Centre in Bengaluru are those bright minds… https://t.co/wSYkQ2SiUD" createdat="1567755703000" id="1169878328196526082"></div>



 India’s is going to become the first country in the world to land near the Moon’s South Pole tonight and the whole world is waiting to watch Chandrayaan 2 land. After seven weeks of maneuvering through space and Chandrayaan 2’s lander, Vikram, is finally reach to make its approach. This will be the “15 most terrifying moments” for the Indian Space Research Organisation, according Chairman K Sivan. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="BiIndia" handlename="Business Insider India🇮🇳" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/897791968561856513/lSAPr7ui_normal.jpg" favoritecount="9" retweetcount="3" status="#WATCH | #Chandrayaan2's soft landing on #Moon on Saturday at 1:30am: Things you must know. Read more:… https://t.co/cE9CUy9pss" createdat="1567754453000" id="1169873085995970562"></div>



 Modi also said — “The moment 130 crore Indians were enthusiastically waiting for is here! In a few hours from now, the final descent of Chandrayaan - 2 will take place on the Lunar South Pole. India, and the rest of the world will yet again see the exemplary prowess of our space scientists.” 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="6523" retweetcount="1280" status="I am extremely excited to be at the ISRO Centre in Bengaluru to witness the extraordinary moment in the history of… https://t.co/3cEPhtGiUp" createdat="1567755702000" id="1169878325763788800"></div>



 Chandrayaan 2’s lander, Vikram, separately from the orbiter on 2 September 2019 and is currently in the process of putting itself in the correct position to begin its soft-landing. It’s a milestone for India since it will be landing one of the most cratered regions on the Moon — that too with indegenious built technology for the first time. Chandrayaan 2 will also make India the fourth country to soft-land on the lunar surface, if it’s successful. Excited over ISRO’s achievements, the prime minister said, “I have been regularly and enthusiastically tracking all updates relating to Chandrayaan - 2 since it was launched on 22nd July 2019. This Mission manifests the best of Indian talent and spirit of tenacity. Its success will benefit crores of Indians.” 
	<div type="twitter" handle="isro" handlename="ISRO" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/413572279734247424/LshYgwCH_normal.jpeg" favoritecount="24026" retweetcount="4906" status="We have the same wishes for Vikram, Orbiter. Want to stay in touch with Vikram and Pragyan as they make their way t… https://t.co/rL4mBBjpVF" createdat="1567740649000" id="1169815188972826625"></div>


 Here’s where and how to watch Chandrayaan 2 land on the Moon: National Geographic will be hosting the live broadcast on 7 September 2019 between 1.30 am to 2.30 am. The show will be hosted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) astronaut, Jerry Linenger. Linenger will walk viewers through the soft landing and also share his own experiences in space with them, according to the channel. Hotstar users can also watch the Moon landing live through the streaming platform. ISRO will also reportedly live stream the event from the Satellite Control Centre (SCC) in Bengaluru. The feed will be able on ISRO’s official site as well as through their channel on YouTube. Chandrayaan 2 is inching close to the Moon's South Pole, and India hopes to be the first country to land on its cratered surface. India's Moon mission will scan the lunar surface for clues about its composition. And, that unlock what's inside — like precious metals, according to a new study published in Nature GeoScience. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="isro" handlename="ISRO" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/413572279734247424/LshYgwCH_normal.jpeg" favoritecount="15464" retweetcount="3337" status="Watch this video to find out more about Vikram — Chandrayaan 2’s Lander — and the different stages of its journey t… https://t.co/Wm4uS7yxQW" createdat="1567701269000" id="1169650015347732481"></div>



 Geologists believe that since there are similarities between the Earth and the Moon, the composition of mineral deposits found on the planet could be parallel to what might be found on the natural satellite. "Examination of mineral deposits on Earth suggests that iron sulfide is a great place to store precious metals, like platinum and palladium," stated James Brenan, the lead author of the paper. And, in order to confirm his findings, "the South pole seems like a good choice for sampling". How will Chandrayaan 2 help? The primary objective of the mission is to build on Chandrayaan 1's discovery of water on the Moon. The high tech instruments aboard the lander, Vikram, and the rover, Pragyan, will analyse the elemental composition of the Moon. Scientists are hoping that the information will help them find out more about other elements as well — like where there may find more Sulphur. "We have been able to link the Sulfur content of lunar volcanic rocks to the presence of iron sulfide deep inside the moon," said Brenan. "Our results show that sulfur in lunar volcanic rocks is a fingerprint for the presence of iron sulfide in the rocky interior of the moon, which is where we think the precious metals were left behind when the lavas were created," he added.

You Searched For "sulphur on moon" and got 10 results

Lunar bounty: Chandrayaan-3's sulphur discovery could help us get much closer to building Moon colonies

Ankush Banerjee

Chandrayaan's detection of sulphur, other elements will help unveil Moon's mysteries, say experts

PTI

India's moon lander Vikram soft lands on the moon for the second time: ISRO

BI India Bureau

India's adorable, dog-sized moon rover did its first science on the moon by shooting powerful laser beams at the surface

Sonam Sheth,Morgan McFall-Johnsen

India's moon lander detected movement near the lunar south pole. It could be the first signs of a moonquake in nearly 50 years.

Grace Eliza Goodwin,Jessica Orwig

Chandrayaan 2 is not just looking for water on the moon

Prabhjote Gill

NASA's human computer who inspired the movie 'Hidden Figures' Katherine Johnson passes away

IANS

ISRO 'very busy' with various exploration missions in pipeline: Chairman

PTI

ISRO chief sees potential in space sector beyond just building rockets, satellites

ANI

PM Modi might retweet you tonight, here's how you can feature on his Twitter timeline

BI India Bureau