Launch of Chandrayaan-3 In July 2023, India launched Chandrayaan-3, its third lunar mission aimed at the Moon's South Pole.
More sophisticated scientific equipment was carried on this flight than on others, allowing for a more thorough examination of the lunar surface.
The presence of water ice in the polar regions of the Moon, mostly in permanently shadowed craters, was suggested by earlier missions like India's Chandrayaan-1.
The possibility that these findings could aid in future lunar exploration aroused curiosity.
The results of Chandrayaan-3 indicate that there might be more ice on the Moon than previously thought.
This includes recently discovered areas of the surface that were previously believed to be too exposed to sunlight to sustain water ice.
The Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR), a crucial tool that enabled the identification of water molecules in previously unexplored regions, was carried by the mission.
It offered scans of the Moon's surface in great resolution.
Ice has been discovered in places close to the Moon's South Pole, such as the Shackleton crater.
Because they are always shaded, these areas assist maintain water ice over time by keeping out direct sunshine.
According to radar data from Chandrayaan-3, ice could be dispersed over larger areas of the Moon's surface, especially in the vicinity of the lunar poles.
Future Moon missions will depend on the finding of extensive ice, which will supply oxygen, water, and rocket fuel (by turning water into hydrogen and oxygen).
Long-term lunar communities might be sustained by moon ice, which would supply energy and life support, increasing the viability of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU).
The chances of colonizing the Moon have improved since water and volatile resources are now more accessible than previously believed.