Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have found a promising one-square-kilometer safe landing zone near the Moon's Mons Mouton mountain. This site, identified as MM-4, is in the rugged south polar region and is crucial for India's upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission. Chandrayaan-4 aims to become India's first mission to collect lunar soil and rock samples and bring them back to Earth for scientific study.Researchers used high-resolution images from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter to pinpoint this optimal touchdown area.[timesofindia+5]
Pinpointing a Lunar Touchdown
Scientists from ISRO's Space Applications Centre (SAC) led the detailed study. The team included Amitabh, K Suresh, Ajay K Prashar, Kannan V Iyer, Abdul S, Shweta Verma Trivedi, and Nitant Dube.They used images from the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC). This camera provides detailed views of the lunar surface at 32-centimeter resolution.[timesofindia+2]
The scientists generated digital elevation models and mapped terrain features. This helped them understand the landscape, including undulations, sunlight patterns, and potential hazards.Engineers set strict requirements for a safe landing site. These include gentle slopes, minimal large rocks, enough sunlight for at least 11 to 12 days, and clear radio contact with Earth.The lander design needs slopes of about 10 degrees or less and boulders smaller than 0.32 meters.[timesofindia+4]
Earlier studies used coarser data to identify possible areas between 84 and 90 degrees south latitude. The new research focused on five specific zones around Mons Mouton.One area was rejected because it lay in permanent shadow.The MM-4 site, located at latitude minus 84.289 degrees and longitude 32.808 degrees, stood out.It showed the lowest hazard level at 9.89 percent.It also features an average slope of 5 degrees and the highest number of safe landing grids, with 568 grids of 24 by 24 meters.[timesofindia+9]
Why Mons Mouton?
Mons Mouton is a large, flat-topped lunar mountain massif. It rises about 6,000 meters high near the Moon's South Pole.It is roughly 100 kilometers wide and lies within 6 degrees of the lunar South Pole.The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially named it after NASA mathematician Melba Roy Mouton.[english+9]
This region is scientifically very important. It sits near permanently shadowed craters that may hold water ice deposits.Studying samples from this area could help scientists understand the Moon's geological past and the distribution of lunar resources.Mons Mouton is also believed to be part of the rim of the South Pole–Aitken Basin. This is one of the largest and oldest impact basins in the Solar System.[indiatoday+4]
Besides its scientific value, the MM-4 site offers practical benefits for a mission. It receives favorable illumination, providing enough sunlight for 11 to 12 days. This is critical for powering the spacecraft's solar panels. The location also ensures clear radio visibility with Earth, allowing for uninterrupted communication during operations on the lunar surface.[insightsonindia+4]
Chandrayaan-4's Ambitious Goals
Chandrayaan-4 is India's most complex lunar mission to date. Its main goal is to collect lunar samples and bring them safely back to Earth. If successful, India would join a small group of nations, including the United States, Russia, and China, that have achieved this difficult feat.[timesofindia+10]
The mission involves a sophisticated five-module spacecraft. These modules include a propulsion module, a descender module, an ascender module, a transfer module, and a re-entry module. The plan involves two separate launches using different rockets. The descender and ascender modules will soft-land on the Moon. The descender will collect samples using robotic systems, similar to the Pragyan rover from Chandrayaan-3. The ascender will then launch these samples back into lunar orbit. Atransfer module will take the samples, and a re-entry module will bring them back to Earth.[sasdigitaltv+12]
A key challenge for Chandrayaan-4 is demonstrating docking and undocking in lunar orbit. This involves two spacecraft aligning and connecting in space. India's Union Cabinet approved Chandrayaan-4 on September 18, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,104.06 crore, or about US$250 million. ISRO aims to launch the mission around 2027 or 2028.[en+6]
India's Growing Lunar Ambitions
The identification of the MM-4 landing site is a critical step for Chandrayaan-4. It highlights ISRO's advanced capabilities in lunar exploration and mission planning. This mission will significantly boost India's standing in the global space community.
Chandrayaan-4 also plays a vital role in preparing for India's future space endeavors. It will validate key technologies needed for a crewed lunar landing, which India plans to achieve by 2040. Themission's success will provide valuable scientific data on the Moon's south polar environment. This data can help scientists understand lunar resources and the Moon's formation.[timesofindia+3]
This detailed analysis, using high-resolution imaging, shows how precise decision-making guides complex space missions. If the landing site selection committee approves the MM-4 patch, it will mark a historic moment. It will be India's first attempt to bring pieces of the Moon back to Earth, opening a new chapter in the country's planetary exploration program.[indiatoday+2]
