Chandrayaan-2 data points to possible subsurface ice at Moon’s south pole

Bengaluru: Nearly six years after launch, India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission continues to deliver new insights about the Moon.

Scientists have found possible signs of subsurface ice in the lunar south polar regions. The findings come from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, using data from Chandrayaan-2’s Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar, or DFSAR.

The DFSAR payload can peer below the lunar surface. Researchers analyzed its observations to identify regions where ice may be preserved beneath the regolith in the permanently shadowed areas of the south pole.

Chandrayaan-2 was launched in July 2019. While its lander failed to touch down safely, the orbiter remains active and continues to map the Moon.

Subsurface ice is critical for future lunar missions. If confirmed, it could support long-term human presence by providing water for drinking, oxygen, and fuel.

The study adds to growing evidence that the Moon’s polar regions hold water in forms that are more accessible than previously thought.