The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has done a tremendous amount in the field of space development and research. In a recent development, ISRO said a payload aboard its Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter has detected solar proton events. Not only that, the ISRO said that the highly complex lunar mission has also shown possibilities for a geomagnetic storm that will soon hit Earth. Read more below to understand the recent discoveries of the Chandrayaan-2.
What types of planets could harbor extraterrestrial life? @NASAWebb will help address this question by looking at TRAPPIST-1, a system of seven rocky planets orbiting a faint star: https://t.co/pDQFLyFokV
It’s the 5th anniversary of the TRAPPIST-1 news, but there’s more @NASAAstrobio come! pic.twitter.com/e35ymHBULy
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What were the findings of the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter?
The Chandrayaan-2’s Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) aboard the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter detected SPE as a result of an M5.5-class solar flare that occurred on January 20, 2022. The CLASS instrument also detected a CME event if it passed through the moon as a result of an M1.5-class solar flare that occurred on Jan. 18, it added. The CLASS payload on Chandrayaan-2 saw both the SPE and CME events pass from two intense solar flares. The CME travels at a speed of about 1,000 km/s and takes about two to three days to reach Earth.
The signature of this event is missed by the GOES satellite, as the Earth’s magnetic field protects against such events. However, the event was recorded by Chandrayaan-2, the ISRO said. ISRO also reported that the Chandrayaan-2 had also recorded coronal mass ejections (CMEs), a powerful flow of ionized material and magnetic fields, reaching Earth a few days later, triggering geomagnetic storms and illuminating the polar sky. with auroras
Chandrayaan-2
Chandrayaan 2 is India’s first space mission of its kind. In this mission, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will attempt to soft-land a spacecraft on the moon. If successful, India will go down in history as the fourth country to achieve a moon landing, after the US, USSR and China. Chandrayaan 2 represents the pinnacle of ISRO’s space capabilities. Launch aboard India’s most powerful missile, the GSLV Mk III. At launch, the Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter will be able to communicate with the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) in Byalalu and with the VikramLander. The mission duration of the Orbiter is one year and it will be placed in a 100×100 km polar orbit.