Credit: ISRO / Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad
How Indian Space Research Organisation’s Advanced Radar Data is Changing Lunar Exploration.
When we think of the Moon, we’re often drawn to its glowing full-face, its phases, or the landing footprints of past missions. But tucked away at the very edges of the lunar surface—near the north and south poles—lie some of the most mysterious and scientifically rich regions in the Solar System.
And now, thanks to the latest data from the Chandrayaan‑2 Orbiter, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is peeling back the cover on those enigmatic zones.
The Mission: Mapping Unseen Terrain.
Since 2019, the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter has been silently circling the Moon, capturing images and radar data. One of its key instruments, the Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR), is unique: it uses L-band radar in full-polarimetric mode, allowing scientists to send and receive signals in both vertical and horizontal directions.
With about 1,400 radar datasets collected and processed, ISRO scientists at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad have created polarimetric mosaics of the lunar north and south polar regions (latitudes ~80° to 90°).
Why the Polar Regions Matter.
These extreme latitudes are not just remote—they’re special. Because they receive less solar radiation and have terrain conditions unlike the equatorial regions, they likely preserve early Solar System materials and chemical states that are lost or altered elsewhere.
In plain terms: the Moon’s poles are like a time-capsule from the early days of the Solar System, and unlocking their secrets can tell us about how planetary bodies—including Earth—evolved.
What the New Data Shows.
Thanks to the advanced radar mode, the polar mosaics reveal physical and electrical characteristics of the lunar surface and subsurface. These include:
- Circular Polarization Ratio (CPR): an indicator of possible water-ice presence.
- Single bounce Eigenvalue Relative Difference (SERD): represents surface roughness.
- T-Ratio: related to the material’s dielectric constant (which tells us about density and porosity).
- Polarimetric decomposition components: reveal how radar waves scatter through odd-bounce, even-bounce, volume, and helix modes.
These parameters help scientists assess where water-ice might exist, what the surface texture is like, how dense/porous the soil is—and all are vital clues for future lunar missions.
Data for the Future of Moon Missions.
ISRO has made these Level 3C derived data products freely available via the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) and the PRADAN portal.
These tools allow researchers worldwide to visualize the maps using CH2 MapBrowse, dive into radar-derived metrics, and plan missions or experiments around the lunar poles. This democratization of data is critical if humanity is to expand beyond Earth’s orbit.
What This Means for Exploration.
- Water-Ice Discovery Possibilities – If CPR values are strong, they may indicate water-ice in permanently shadowed craters. Such resources could fuel future lunar bases.
- Surface Suitability for Landing – Knowing surface roughness and dielectric constant helps mission planners choose safer landing zones.
- Understanding Planet Formation – These preserved regions may show us early conditions; mining them for clues is like reading the Solar System’s ancient diary.
- Global Collaboration – By releasing data openly, ISRO positions India as a key partner in lunar exploration and invites the world to use its datasets.
A Story of Innovation and Vision.
Picture a small radar instrument aboard a spacecraft launched from Earth. Orbit after orbit, it beams radar waves toward the Moon’s hidden poles, returns echoes that traverse decades of geological change, and gradually reveals patterns of ice, rock, and ancient solar radiation. The scientists at SAC-Ahmedabad piece those echoes into mosaics, extract meaning from the noise, and hand the results to the world.
In doing so, they’re not merely mapping a celestial body. They’re charting the future of lunar exploration—for science, for industry, and for humanity.
Final Word for Moon-Watchers.
If you’re someone who dreams of stepping on the Moon, mining its resources, or simply understanding our place in the universe, keep an eye on the datasets emerging from ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 mission. The one place that might hold Earth’s next giant leap could be the silent, icy craters at the Moon’s poles.
Because in those shadowy corners, the Moon holds its secrets—and thanks to this new radar work, we’re finally learning how to ask the right questions.