2023-10-01 11:55:55
Indian Lunar Rover Discovers Surprising Element on Moon: Sulfur Holds Potential for Future Space Travel
By Tanja Banner | October 1, 2023, 11:55 a.m
Bangalore – The Indian lunar rover, “Pragyan,” part of the “Chandrayaan-3” mission, has made an unexpected discovery on the moon. After analyzing the lunar soil, known as regolith, the rover found a significant presence of sulfur. The discovery has sparked excitement among researchers as it holds potential implications for future space travel.
Planetary scientist Jeffrey Gillis-Davis, in an interview with The Conversation, expressed his surprise, stating, “Planetary scientists like me knew that sulfur occurs in lunar rocks and soils, but only in very low concentrations. These new measurements suggest that the sulfur concentration may be higher than expected.” Alongside sulfur, the Indian rover also confirmed the presence of previously anticipated elements such as aluminum, calcium, chromium, iron, oxygen, titanium, silicon, and manganese.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) revealed that the existence of sulfur at the moon’s south pole had not been confirmed before the “Chandrayaan-3” mission. This finding is potentially significant for space travel because, as Gillis-Davis explains, “Sulfur in soils near the lunar poles could one day help astronauts live off Earth.”
The concept of “In situ resource utilization” (ISRU) plays a crucial role in reducing the cost of space travel. ISRU involves utilizing locally available materials to avoid the excessive expenses associated with transporting cargo from Earth. In 2017, experts estimated that it would cost approximately 1.7 million euros to transport a brick to Mars. While lunar transportation may be slightly cheaper, it remains disproportionately costly. Consequently, research institutions worldwide are focused on exploring ways to capitalize on the resources available on the Moon and Mars.
According to Gillis-Davis, sulfur could potentially revolutionize space travel. He suggests that astronauts could utilize sulfur to build solar cells and batteries, create sulfur-based fertilizers, and develop sulfur-based concrete for construction purposes. Sulfur-based concrete, in comparison to traditional concrete, offers numerous advantages. Notably, it hardens in a matter of hours rather than weeks, making it more resistant to wear and tear. Additionally, it eliminates the need for water in the mixing process, allowing astronauts to conserve water for drinking, producing breathable oxygen, and manufacturing rocket fuel.
While the utilization of local resources has been tested on Mars, using instruments like “Moxie” to extract oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, the presence of sulfur on the Moon presents a new opportunity for advancing space exploration and settlement.
The discovery made by the Indian lunar rover opens up new possibilities for sustainable and cost-effective space travel. As scientists continue to analyze the data gathered during the “Chandrayaan-3” mission, the importance of sulfur as a valuable resource for future missions becomes increasingly evident.]
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