The ChaSTE Instrument on Chandrayaan-3
The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) is a prominent instrument onboard the Vikram lander of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully landed on the moon on August 23, 2023.
Mission Details
- The mission marked the first successful deployment of a thermal probe on the moon’s south pole, focusing on measuring in situ temperatures.
- The ChaSTE probe features 10 temperature sensors spaced about 1 cm apart along its length, enabling precise temperature readings.
- The probe employs a rotation-based deployment mechanism to penetrate the moon's surface efficiently.
- ChaSTE successfully reached a depth of 10 cm, collecting critical data until September 2, 2023.
Scientific Findings
- The data collected suggested that water ice is more prevalent on the moon than previously anticipated.
Comparison with Previous Missions
The ChaSTE mission stands out due to its unique approach and successful deployment compared to previous missions:
- Philae Lander (ESA, 2014): The Philae lander on comet 67P faced deployment issues due to its awkward landing, preventing its MUPUS instrument from functioning as intended.
- InSight Mission (NASA, 2018): Although NASA's InSight mission on Mars included a temperature-sensing instrument called Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3), technical difficulties prevented it from gathering temperature data effectively.
Technical Insights
- The ChaSTE probe's success is attributed to its rotating device, unlike the hammering mechanisms used in previous missions.
This innovative approach allowed ChaSTE to overcome the limitations faced by prior missions, leading to its groundbreaking success.
