Brief Context
Context The Chandrayaan-2 mission has made the first-ever observation of the effects of the Suns Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on the Moon using its onboard scientific instruments. About the observation The finding was made by Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2), a payload onboard Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter. CHACE-2 recorded a sharp rise in total pressure and molecular density in the Moon’s sunlit exosphere.
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Syllabus: GS3 / Science and Technology
Context
- The Chandrayaan-2 mission has made the first-ever observation of the effects of the Sun’s Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on the Moon using its onboard scientific instruments.
About the observation
- The finding was made by Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2), a payload onboard Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter.
- CHACE-2 recorded a sharp rise in total pressure and molecular density in the Moon’s sunlit exosphere.
- CMEs are the events when the Sun ejects significant quantities of its building material, comprising mostly Helium and Hydrogen ions.
Composition of Lunar Exosphere
- The Moon’s atmosphere is extremely thin, classified as an exosphere, implying that the gas atoms and molecules in the lunar environment rarely interact despite their coexistence.
- The boundary of the exosphere is the surface of the Moon and hence the Moon’s exosphere falls under the category of ‘surface boundary exosphere’.
- The lunar exosphere is formed by processes such as:
- Solar radiation,
- Solar wind (ions of hydrogen, helium, and trace heavier elements), and
- Meteorite impacts that release surface atoms into space.
- Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks a magnetic field, making it directly exposed to CMEs.
| Chandrayaan-2 – Chandrayaan-2 was India’s second lunar mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2019, using the GSLV-MkIII-M1 rocket. – It comprises an orbiter, lander (Vikram), and rover (Pragyan). – CHACE-2 Payload Objective: To study the composition, distribution, and variability of the lunar neutral exosphere. |
Significance of the observation
- It provides valuable insight into lunar exospheric dynamics and space weather effects on airless celestial bodies.
- Enhances understanding of Sun–Moon interactions, contributing to better space weather prediction models.
- Provides critical knowledge for future lunar missions and habitats, especially for human presence on the Moon by 2040.
- Reinforces India’s growing capability in planetary science and space environment monitoring.
Source: AIR