Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander
Abstract The thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith is an essential parameter in studying the thermal behavior of the Moon and in planning future lunar exploration. The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) aboard Vikram lander of the Indian Moon mission Chandrayaan 3 made the fir...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91866-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850029920556679168 |
|---|---|
| author | Nizy Mathew K. Durga Prasad Fazil Mohammad V. Aasik Dinakar Prasad Vajja M. Ram Prabhu M. Satheesh Chandran K. P. Subhajayan Kiran John Antony P. P. Pramod Chandan Kumar Dona Mathew R. Suresh U. A. Subramanian V. Sathiyamoorthy Manu V. Unnithan V. Preethakumari Vinitha Ramdas Ajay Salas P. S. Ajeeshkumar Neha Naik Vinu Paul P. Kalyana Reddy G. Ambily K. Kannan M. B. Dhanya Sanjeev Mishra P. T. Lali K. Sunitha Samik Jash Tanmay Singhal Janmejay Kumar Manoj Kumar Mishra R. Renju C. Suresh Raju Anil Bhardwaj |
| author_facet | Nizy Mathew K. Durga Prasad Fazil Mohammad V. Aasik Dinakar Prasad Vajja M. Ram Prabhu M. Satheesh Chandran K. P. Subhajayan Kiran John Antony P. P. Pramod Chandan Kumar Dona Mathew R. Suresh U. A. Subramanian V. Sathiyamoorthy Manu V. Unnithan V. Preethakumari Vinitha Ramdas Ajay Salas P. S. Ajeeshkumar Neha Naik Vinu Paul P. Kalyana Reddy G. Ambily K. Kannan M. B. Dhanya Sanjeev Mishra P. T. Lali K. Sunitha Samik Jash Tanmay Singhal Janmejay Kumar Manoj Kumar Mishra R. Renju C. Suresh Raju Anil Bhardwaj |
| author_sort | Nizy Mathew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith is an essential parameter in studying the thermal behavior of the Moon and in planning future lunar exploration. The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) aboard Vikram lander of the Indian Moon mission Chandrayaan 3 made the first in situ measurement of thermal conductivity of lunar regolith at southern high latitude using a thermal probe with ten temperature sensors at uneven intervals within 10 cm and a foil-type heater wound around the probe close to the nose tip. The ChaSTE thermal probe was inserted into the lunar regolith by a controlled motorized penetration in 29 hours. Through the two active heating experiments at a depth of 80 mm, the thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith at the Vikram landing site is estimated to be 0.0115 ± 0.0008 and 0.0124 ± 0.0009 W m $$^{-1}$$ K $$^{-1}$$ , respectively. The average packing density of the lunar regolith derived using the penetration motor current is 1940 ± 10 kg m $$^{-3}$$ . An empirical model incorporating the temperature and the packing density value yielded thermal conductivity consistent with the in situ measurement. The value of the thermal conductivity measured by ChaSTE is also corroborated by a numerical model. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1ba3f3f67cbd4f4cb19e9aa37ddb9ff1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1ba3f3f67cbd4f4cb19e9aa37ddb9ff12025-08-20T02:59:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-91866-4Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 landerNizy Mathew0K. Durga Prasad1Fazil Mohammad2V. Aasik3Dinakar Prasad Vajja4M. Ram Prabhu5M. Satheesh Chandran6K. P. Subhajayan7Kiran John Antony8P. P. Pramod9Chandan Kumar10Dona Mathew11R. Suresh12U. A. Subramanian13V. Sathiyamoorthy14Manu V. Unnithan15V. Preethakumari16Vinitha Ramdas17Ajay Salas18P. S. Ajeeshkumar19Neha Naik20Vinu Paul21P. Kalyana Reddy22G. Ambily23K. Kannan24M. B. Dhanya25Sanjeev Mishra26P. T. Lali27K. Sunitha28Samik Jash29Tanmay Singhal30Janmejay Kumar31Manoj Kumar Mishra32R. Renju33C. Suresh Raju34Anil Bhardwaj35Space Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentrePhysical Research LaboratoryVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentrePhysical Research LaboratoryVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentrePhysical Research LaboratoryPhysical Research LaboratoryVikram Sarabhai Space CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentrePhysical Research LaboratorySpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreVikram Sarabhai Space CentreHuman Space Flight CentrePhysical Research LaboratorySpace Application CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentreSpace Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space CentrePhysical Research LaboratoryAbstract The thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith is an essential parameter in studying the thermal behavior of the Moon and in planning future lunar exploration. The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) aboard Vikram lander of the Indian Moon mission Chandrayaan 3 made the first in situ measurement of thermal conductivity of lunar regolith at southern high latitude using a thermal probe with ten temperature sensors at uneven intervals within 10 cm and a foil-type heater wound around the probe close to the nose tip. The ChaSTE thermal probe was inserted into the lunar regolith by a controlled motorized penetration in 29 hours. Through the two active heating experiments at a depth of 80 mm, the thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith at the Vikram landing site is estimated to be 0.0115 ± 0.0008 and 0.0124 ± 0.0009 W m $$^{-1}$$ K $$^{-1}$$ , respectively. The average packing density of the lunar regolith derived using the penetration motor current is 1940 ± 10 kg m $$^{-3}$$ . An empirical model incorporating the temperature and the packing density value yielded thermal conductivity consistent with the in situ measurement. The value of the thermal conductivity measured by ChaSTE is also corroborated by a numerical model.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91866-4Lunar regolithThermal conductivityChaSTEChandrayaan 3 |
| spellingShingle | Nizy Mathew K. Durga Prasad Fazil Mohammad V. Aasik Dinakar Prasad Vajja M. Ram Prabhu M. Satheesh Chandran K. P. Subhajayan Kiran John Antony P. P. Pramod Chandan Kumar Dona Mathew R. Suresh U. A. Subramanian V. Sathiyamoorthy Manu V. Unnithan V. Preethakumari Vinitha Ramdas Ajay Salas P. S. Ajeeshkumar Neha Naik Vinu Paul P. Kalyana Reddy G. Ambily K. Kannan M. B. Dhanya Sanjeev Mishra P. T. Lali K. Sunitha Samik Jash Tanmay Singhal Janmejay Kumar Manoj Kumar Mishra R. Renju C. Suresh Raju Anil Bhardwaj Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander Scientific Reports Lunar regolith Thermal conductivity ChaSTE Chandrayaan 3 |
| title | Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander |
| title_full | Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander |
| title_fullStr | Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander |
| title_short | Thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Chandrayaan 3 lander |
| title_sort | thermal conductivity of high latitude lunar regolith measured by chandra s surface thermophysical experiment chaste onboard chandrayaan 3 lander |
| topic | Lunar regolith Thermal conductivity ChaSTE Chandrayaan 3 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91866-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nizymathew thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT kdurgaprasad thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT fazilmohammad thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT vaasik thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT dinakarprasadvajja thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT mramprabhu thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT msatheeshchandran thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT kpsubhajayan thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT kiranjohnantony thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT pppramod thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT chandankumar thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT donamathew thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT rsuresh thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT uasubramanian thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT vsathiyamoorthy thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT manuvunnithan thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT vpreethakumari thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT vinitharamdas thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT ajaysalas thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT psajeeshkumar thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT nehanaik thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT vinupaul thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT pkalyanareddy thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT gambily thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT kkannan thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT mbdhanya thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT sanjeevmishra thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT ptlali thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT ksunitha thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT samikjash thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT tanmaysinghal thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT janmejaykumar thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT manojkumarmishra thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT rrenju thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT csureshraju thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander AT anilbhardwaj thermalconductivityofhighlatitudelunarregolithmeasuredbychandrassurfacethermophysicalexperimentchasteonboardchandrayaan3lander |