Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander Unleashes Lunar Spectacle: ISRO’s Revelation

In a groundbreaking revelation, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unveiled new insights from Chandrayaan-3, India’s lunar mission. ISRO disclosed that the Vikram lander module of Chandrayaan-3 created a breathtaking lunar event by blowing off 2.06 tonnes of lunar epiregolith (Moon Dust) upon landing, generating what scientists have termed a “spectacular ejecta halo.”

The agency further elaborated that the lander’s impact dispersed lunar material over an extensive area, covering approximately 108.4 m² around the landing site. Scientists from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and ISRO meticulously studied the event, estimating the quantity of lunar epiregolith ejected and the area it covered.

The phenomenon, named the ‘ejecta halo,’ was characterized by analyzing high-resolution images from the Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC) of the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. These images, taken before and after the landing, showcased an irregular bright patch encircling the lander, signifying the ejected lunar material.

Comparing pre-landing and post-landing imagery, the scientists mapped and classified the lunar epiregolith ejected during the landing event. Their analysis revealed an approximate area of 108.4 m² covered by the lunar material, expelled due to the landing sequence of the Vikram lander. Utilizing empirical relations, they calculated that approximately 2.06 tonnes of lunar epiregolith were ejected during this extraordinary event.

This remarkable achievement occurred on August 23, 2023, marking India’s historic landing on the moon’s South Pole. Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing not only realized a significant scientific milestone but also triumphantly ended the disappointment stemming from the Chandrayaan-2 crash landing four years prior. India proudly joined the ranks of countries like the US, China, and Russia, becoming the fourth nation to successfully land on the moon’s surface.