Chandrayaan-2 Observations of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) Effects on the Moon
Key Findings from CHACE-2 Payload
- The Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2) payload, part of India's Chandrayaan-2 mission, recorded the first-ever observation of the Sun's Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) effects on the Moon.
- During a CME event on May 10, 2024, there was an increase in the total pressure of the dayside lunar exosphere.
- Total number density, or the number of neutral atoms/molecules per unit volume, increased by more than an order of magnitude.
Scientific Implications
- This observation corroborates theoretical models predicting the effects of CMEs on the lunar exosphere.
- The increase in solar coronal mass led to enhanced liberation of atoms from the lunar surface, raising the lunar exosphere’s pressure.
- These findings deepen the understanding of lunar space weather and the Moon’s exosphere.
Challenges for Lunar Base Development
- Extreme solar events like CMEs present challenges for building sustainable scientific bases on the Moon.
- Architects must consider these temporary environmental changes when designing lunar habitats.
Background on Chandrayaan-2 Mission
- Launched on July 22, 2019, from Sriharikota using the GSLV-MkIII-M1 rocket.
- Successfully entered the Moon’s elliptical orbit on August 20, 2019.
- Carried eight experimental payloads, though the Vikram lander lost communication during its descent.
The Chandrayaan-2 mission's new insights into solar interactions with the Moon highlight both scientific advances and logistical challenges for future lunar exploration and inhabitation.