Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft Landing Site on the Moon's South Pole is About 3.7 Billion Years Old, According to Indian Scientists

 

Indian scientists have determined that the landing site of Chandrayaan-3, India’s historic lunar mission, is approximately 3.7 billion years old. The Vikram lander successfully touched down near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023, making India the first country to achieve a soft landing in this region.

Using data from the Pragyan rover and onboard scientific instruments, researchers analyzed the geological characteristics of the terrain. The findings suggest that the area, located in the Moon’s southern highlands, dates back to the Nectarian period, a time when the lunar surface was shaped by intense asteroid impacts.

This discovery is significant as it provides deeper insights into the Moon’s ancient past, its evolution, and the presence of water ice in the permanently shadowed regions. The mission’s success reinforces India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and contributes valuable data for future lunar research and human missions.