Overview of ChaSTE’s Mission
- Instrument Name: Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE)
- Objective: First in-situ temperature measurement near the Moon’s south pole
- Deployment Date: August 23, 2023 (as part of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander mission)
- Mission Duration: Until September 2, 2023
How ChaSTE Worked
- Design: Featured a rotating probe with 10 temperature sensors spaced 1 cm apart
- Deployment Mechanism:
- The probe motor rotated to push the needle into the lunar soil
- Sensors detected temperature changes to confirm penetration depth
- Maximum penetration: 10 cm below the lunar surface
Key Scientific Achievement
- Confirmed greater prevalence of lunar water ice than previously estimated
- First successful soil penetration for a thermal probe on a celestial body
Comparison with Past Missions
| Mission | Body | Instrument | Challenges Faced | Success? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESA’s Philae (2014) | Comet 67P | MUPUS | Landed awkwardly, unable to deploy | ❌ |
| NASA’s InSight (2018) | Mars | HP3 (“The Mole”) | Insufficient soil friction, failed to measure temperature | ❌ |
| ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 (2023) | Moon | ChaSTE | Successfully deployed, collected full data | ✅ |
Why ChaSTE Succeeded?
- Used a rotation-based deployment mechanism instead of hammering (as in MUPUS & HP3)
- Overcame soil resistance effectively
- Accurately recorded temperature variations at different depths
