Chandrayaan-3: ISRO makes first observations from ChaSTE payload

The Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday made the first observations from the ChaSTE payload onboard Vikram Lander from the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

ChaSTE or Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment measures the temperature profile of the lunar topsoil around the pole, to understand the thermal behaviour of the moon's surface.

It has a temperature probe equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism capable of reaching a depth of 10 cm beneath the surface.


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The probe is fitted with 10 individual temperature sensors. Isro presented a graph that illustrates the temperature variations of the lunar surface/near-surface at various depths, as recorded during the probe's penetration.

"This is the first such profile for the lunar south pole. Detailed observations are underway," Isro said.

The payload is developed by a team led by the Space Physics Laboratory (SPL) of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, in collaboration with Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

On Saturday evening, Isro had said two of the three mission objectives had been completed.

"Demonstration of a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface and rover roving on the moon is accomplished," Isro said.

Conducting in-situ scientific experiments is underway, it said, adding that all payloads are performing normally.

Chandrayaan-3 intends to conduct in-situ experiments on the surface and environment of the moon at the landing site, thermophysical properties, plasma environment, seismicity and elemental composition of the moon.

Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon on August 23 and the mission life is one lunar day or 14 earth days.