ISRO Reveals Spectacular Lunar Event: Chandrayaan-3 Lander Creates ‘Ejecta Halo’ on Moon’s Surface

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently shared fascinating details about a lunar event associated with the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The Vikram lander, part of Chandrayaan-3, landed near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. During the landing process, the lander module blew off lunar epiregolith, creating what scientists describe as a “spectacular ejecta halo” on the lunar surface.

This event was captured and analyzed using high-resolution imagery from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter’s Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC). Before and after the landing event, images were acquired, allowing scientists to map and characterize the ejecta halo, which appeared as an irregular bright patch surrounding the lander. By analyzing the data, ISRO estimates that approximately 2.06 tonnes of lunar epiregolith were ejected and displaced over an area of 108.4 square meters due to the landing sequence of the Vikram lander.

The successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 lander module marked a significant achievement for India in its lunar exploration efforts. It also represented a redemption of sorts after the disappointment of the Chandrayaan-2’s crash landing on the Moon’s surface. India became the fourth country in the world, following the US, China, and Russia, to achieve a successful soft landing on the lunar surface, solidifying its place in the realm of space exploration. This event opens up new opportunities for the study of lunar geology and surface interactions, bringing the scientific community closer to unraveling the Moon’s mysteries.