Vikram lander sends back lunar temperature data

According to ISRO, ChaSTE measures the temperature profile of the subsoil around the lunar south pole to understand the thermal properties of the lunar surface.

On social network X (formerly Twitter), ISRO shared: “The device (ChaSTE) has a temperature sensor equipped with a controlled penetration mechanism with the ability to reach a depth of 10 cm below the surface. This sensor is equipped with 10 different temperature probes”.

“The graph obtained depicts the temperature variation of the surface/near-surface of the Moon at different depths, recorded during the sensor tracking. Detailed observations are being carried out,” ISRO explained. Looking at the graph shared by ISRO, it can be seen that the temperature variation ranges from -10°C to 60°C, depending on the depth.

This is the first official data released by ISRO from the Moon after the successful landing of the Vikram lander on August 23, followed by the Pragyan rover moving on the lunar surface. All five instruments integrated by ISRO on the lander and rover have begun in-situ testing and their performance is normal so far.

Data from the instruments on the thruster module has also started being sent to ground stations and ISRO is expected to make further announcements on the lunar exploration activities once the basic data analysis is complete.