By: Jai Prakash Verma, Smiti Kothari, Jayneel Shah
India achieved a historic milestone by successfully sending a spacecraft to explore the moon’s south pole. The ‘Chandrayaan 3’ rover’s landing marked India as the fourth country to accomplish a lunar mission. The data gathered from Chandrayaan-3’s mission is incredibly valuable for scientific research. This expedition will delve into the uncharted territory of the lunar south pole, a region believed to contain abundant water ice, a critical resource for future lunar exploration by humans. Additionally, the mission aims to study the moon’s geology, composition, and environment, providing insights into how our celestial neighbour was formed and has evolved. Beyond its scientific importance, the data collected by Chandrayaan-3 could also lead to the development of new technologies with applications here on Earth. Figure 1 shows the images of Chandrayaan-3 and its data generation.
Description of the Payloads
The Chandrayaan-3 mission carries seven scientific payloads. Four of the payloads are on the lander, two are on the rover, and one is on the propulsion module. The payloads are designed to provide an integrated assessment of the lunar surface. Figure 2 shows the 3-D views of Chandrayaan-3 Modules.
The description of the payloads is presented in Table 1
| LANDER PAYLOADS | |
| Payloads | Objective |
| Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) | To measure the thermal characteristics of the lunar surface near the polar zone. |
| Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) | Determining the structure of the lunar crust and mantle by measuring seismicity around the landing site. |
| LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA) | It is a passive experiment designed to better understand the dynamics of the Moon system. |
| Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere (RAMBHA) – Langmuir probe (LP) | To determine the density of near-surface plasma (ions and electrons) and how it varies over time. |
| ROVER PAYLOADS | |
| LASER Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) | To improve our understanding of the lunar surface, we used qualitative and quantitative elemental analyses to estimate the chemical composition and infer mineralogical composition. |
| Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) | To ascertain the elemental composition (Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) of lunar soil and rocks in the vicinity of the lunar landing site. |
| PROPULSION MODULE PAYLOAD | |
| Spectro-polarimetry of HAbitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) | Future discovery of smaller planets in reflected light might allow us to investigate a wide range of Exo-planets that might be habitable (or have life). |
Types of Data Generated
Chandrayaan-3, India’s lunar mission, is set to gather a treasure of information about the moon:
- High-resolution images: The Chandrayaan-3 orbiter is equipped with a powerful camera that captures detailed pictures of the moon’s surface. These images will help us create maps and pinpoint potential landing spots for future missions.
- Chemical composition: The orbiter carries a spectrometer to analyse the moon’s surface chemistry, offering insights into its formation and evolution.
- Water ice hunt: The Chandrayaan-3 lander includes a probe designed to search for water ice in the moon’s south pole, a region believed to be rich in this resource.
- Seismic insights: Equipped with a seismometer, the lander will detect seismic waves from moonquakes and other events, helping us understand the moon’s internal structure and dynamics.
- Rover’s exploration: The Pragyan rover boasts various instruments to study the lunar surface. It can analyse soil, measure temperatures, and look for signs of life.
The data collected by Chandrayaan-3 will be a valuable asset for scientists and engineers for years to come. Beyond its scientific significance, the mission will also generate a wealth of engineering data.
Here are the different types of engineering data that Chandrayaan-3 is generating:
- Trajectory data: This can help us track the spacecraft’s journey to the Moon and its landing on the lunar surface.
- Telemetry data: This can allow us to keep an eye on the spacecraft’s health and its various systems.
- Imagery data: This data can help us create detailed maps of the Moon’s surface.
All this engineering data from Chandrayaan-3 will be incredibly valuable. It can help us design and operate future space missions better and even lead to the development of new technologies for space exploration.
Role of Big Data Analytics and Quantum Computing in processing the data generated by Chandrayan-3
Big data analytics and quantum computing will play a crucial role in handling and making sense of the enormous amount of data gathered by Chandrayaan-3. This mission is anticipated to produce terabytes of data, which would be too vast and intricate for manual analysis. Big data analytics and quantum computing can step in to find hidden patterns and valuable insights within this data, things that human analysts might miss.
Here are some ways these technologies can assist:
- Data Mining: Think of it as uncovering hidden treasures within the data. Data mining can help identify patterns and trends, revealing valuable information about the moon’s environment and potential resources. For instance, it could pinpoint areas rich in water ice or those suitable for future exploration. Quantum computing can speed up this process, making data analysis faster and more thorough.
- Machine Learning: This involves teaching computers to make predictions based on data. Machine learning can help us predict how the moon’s environment behaves, which, in turn, can improve the planning of future lunar missions. Imagine predicting lunar weather or identifying potential hazards for spacecraft. Quantum computing can enhance the training of machine learning algorithms, resulting in more accurate models.
- Data Visualization: Data visualisation creates interactive, easy-to-understand visuals of the data. This can be used to share mission results with the public and fellow scientists. For example, it could produce 3D maps of the moon or showcase the movement of lunar dust. Quantum computing can help create even more realistic and immersive data visualisations.
Big data analytics and quantum computing are powerful tools that make sense of complex data sets. The information collected by Chandrayaan-3 will be invaluable to scientists worldwide, and these technologies will be essential for processing and understanding the data, ultimately expanding our knowledge of the moon and its potential for future human exploration. Figure 3 shows the role of quantum computing in data generation of Chandrayaan-3.
Applications
- Development of new technologies for space exploration:Chandrayaan-3’s data can open doors to innovative space technologies like developing methods to extract valuable resources from the Moon or devising ways to safeguard astronauts in the lunar wilderness.
- Water purification: Our quest for water ice on the Moon can also revolutionise water purification here on Earth. The techniques used to harvest lunar water could help us turn salty or polluted water into a clean, life-sustaining resource.
- Solar energy generation: The Moon’s thin atmosphere offers a unique advantage for solar energy generation. This could make it an ideal spot for building solar power plants. Chandrayaan-3’s data might help optimise the design of these lunar solar facilities.
- Telecommunications: The Moon is a strategic location for telecommunications satellites because of its orbit. Chandrayaan-3’s findings could enhance the development of these lunar-orbiting communication hubs, boosting global connectivity.
- Medical research: The Moon’s low gravity provides an excellent environment for studying how microgravity affects human health. Insights from Chandrayaan-3 could potentially lead to groundbreaking therapies for conditions caused by prolonged weightlessness.
Figure 4 represents the application of quantum computing data.
Conclusion
The Chandrayaan-3 mission marks a significant achievement for India’s space program and contributes significantly to the global quest for lunar exploration. This mission is set to uncover a treasure trove of lunar data that will deepen our understanding of the moon’s origin, evolution, and potential for future human exploration. It has the potential to reshape our perception of the moon and its prospects for human exploration.The data collected by Chandrayaan-3 will be analysed using cutting-edge tools like big data analytics and quantum computing. These powerful technologies will enable scientists to unveil insights that traditional methods couldn’t provide. Moreover, this data will drive the development of innovative space technologies, including ways to harness lunar resources and safeguard astronauts from the moon’s harsh conditions. The knowledge gained from this mission will not only benefit scientists and engineers worldwide but also propel us closer to the next frontiers of space exploration. Chandrayaan-3 is truly a historic mission that propels us forward on our cosmic journey.
References
https://www.isro.gov.in/Chandrayaan3_Details.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan_programme
https://www.space.com/india-chandrayaan-3-probe-moon-far-side-photos
Informative blog!
Thank You!
I am looking forward to seeing how big data analytics and quantum computing are used in future space missions. Very confident that these technologies will play a major role in helping us explore the Solar System and beyond. Good Work Team, Kudos!
Thank you Aveneon for nice and appreciating words for our initiative of exploring big data analytics and QC.
The blog does a good job of capturing the significance of big data analytics and quantum computing in the historic endeavor. Congratulations India 🇮🇳 and great work team for putting this out!!
Thank you Alex for appreciating our efforts in the direction of BDA and QC…