- Scientists have discovered that the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander’s site, Shiv Shakti Point, is about 3.7 billion years old—the same age as the earliest life forms on Earth.
- India’s Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) has mapped the region, revealing diverse terrains and debris from a nearby crater.
- The next lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4, set for 2027, aims to bring Moon samples back to Earth for further study.
Could the Moon Hold Secrets About Earth’s Origins?
A year after its historic landing, Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander is still revealing astonishing discoveries. Scientists from PRL have analyzed its landing site, known as the Shiv Shakti Point, and determined that it is approximately 3.7 billion years old. This is the same age as some of the earliest known life forms on Earth, suggesting that the Moon and Earth share a deeper geological connection than previously thought.
To understand the Moon’s surface, researchers created the first geological map of the site, located near the Moon’s south pole. They identified three major types of terrains—high-relief rugged terrain with hills, smooth plains with few surface features, and low-relief smooth plains with slight elevation changes. Vikram landed in the latter, an area blanketed with boulders and rock fragments, some originating from the nearby Schomberger crater, which is around 540 meters wide.
Additionally, the rover Pragyan explored smaller rock fragments near a 10-meter-wide crater west of the landing site. These findings provide insight into the Moon’s history and how cosmic events have shaped its surface over billions of years.
What’s Next for India’s Lunar Exploration?
Chandrayaan-3’s success on August 23, 2023, made India the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and the first to reach the south pole region. Now, India is gearing up for its next ambitious lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4, scheduled for 2027. This mission will aim to collect lunar soil and rock samples and bring them back to Earth for detailed analysis.
Unlike previous missions, Chandrayaan-4 will involve a two-phase launch strategy, utilizing multiple spacecraft modules to ensure the safe return of samples. The data gathered could help scientists better understand the Moon’s history, its connection to Earth, and the possibility of future human settlements on the lunar surface.
As India continues its space exploration journey, the findings from Shiv Shakti Point reinforce how the Moon holds clues to the past and could shape our future in space exploration.
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