New Delhi: The soil analysed by Chandrayaan-3's Pragyan rover at the Moon's southern high-latitude region on the nearside has a geochemical composition that closely resembles the first meteorite confirmed to be of lunar origin, according to a new study.
For instance, both the meteorite, ALHA 81005, and the soil at Shiv Shakti Point—Chandrayaan-3's landing site—contain nearly similar amounts of aluminium oxide and a combination of iron oxide and magnesium oxide.
The study, titled "Chandrayaan-3 APXS measurements reveal Lunar highland compositional diversity and meteorite connections," was conducted by scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.
It was published in the journal npj Space Exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement on Friday.
The study, however, clarified that the findings do not mean ALHA 81005 originated from Shiv Shakti Point. Rather, they indicate that both represent a similar type of magnesium-rich lunar crust and regolith (the loose, unconsolidated material covering the Moon's surface).
ALHA 81005 was discovered in the Allan Hills region of Antarctica during the 1981-82 expedition.
The analysis also revealed that the soil at Shiv Shakti Point is a mixture of materials from different layers of the Moon's crust.
According to ISRO, the surface contains not only material from the Moon's upper crust but also fragments of magnesium-rich rocks, likely originating from its deeper layers.
"By linking Shiv Shakti Point to the Moon's first recognised meteorite, the Chandrayaan-3 mission has opened new avenues for understanding the formation of the ancient lunar crust," ISRO said.