IIT Bombay students decode Moon’s chemistry using Chandrayaan-2 data
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Mumbai: Students of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have successfully mapped the Moon’s surface chemistry using data from Chandrayaan-2, the institute announced on Saturday. This effort was part of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) challenge conducted during the Inter-IIT Tech Meet, IIT Bombay said in a statement.
The Moon, lacking an atmosphere, is constantly exposed to strong X-ray radiation from the Sun. When these X-rays strike the lunar surface, the elements there emit unique light, a natural form of X-ray fluorescence, which allows scientists to identify the Moon’s composition. Chandrayaan-2’s Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) uses this effect to scan the lunar surface from 100 km above, collecting data in wide strips during each orbit. Over the years, CLASS has mapped nearly the entire Moon, generating a rich dataset on ISRO’s Pradhan portal, much of which had remained unexplored scientifically until now.
Ravi Kumar, the lead student from the winning IIT Bombay team, described the experience as “simultaneously exhilarating and humbling,” noting that working with data from ISRO’s flagship Chandrayaan mission felt like contributing to a monumental endeavour and connected them directly to India’s space exploration legacy.
Prof Varun Bhalerao, faculty guide for the post-competition research, said, “Our students applied advanced astrophysics and data analysis techniques to extract meaningful surface chemistry information from complex X-ray spectra. Their dedication to transforming competition results into publishable research exemplifies the best of scientific inquiry.”
Prof Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, added, “IIT Bombay students have demonstrated that when given the opportunity, they consistently rise to meet the most challenging scientific problems.”
Deputy Director Prof Milind Atrey highlighted the achievement as a perfect example of India’s young talent driving the nation’s space program forward, saying, “As we celebrate the second National Space Day, this accomplishment showcases how innovation and excellence from our students will propel India’s space efforts to new heights.”
With PTI inputs
