Chandrayaan-3’s ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) is the first instrument to measure in-situ temperatures near the Moon’s south pole.
ChaSTE successfully penetrated lunar soil and deployed a thermal probe, unlike previous missions like ESA’s Philae and NASA’s InSight HP3.
It provides crucial data on lunar surface temperatures, supporting evidence of water ice deposits.
The thermal probe, integrated into the Vikram lander, has 10 temperature sensors spaced 1 cm apart.
It uses a rotation-based deployment mechanism, pushing the probe downwards.
ChaSTE reached a depth of 10 cm in the lunar regolith and monitored temperature variations.
Final temperature readings confirmed thermal properties essential for lunar exploration.
ESA’s Philae lander failed to deploy its temperature probe due to an awkward landing.
NASA’s InSight HP3 couldn’t penetrate deep enough due to low friction in Martian sand.
Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission, aiming for a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole.
ChaSTE’s importance lies in providing data on temperature variations beneath the lunar surface, aiding future Moon exploration.
