Chandrayaan-2 makes first-ever observations on lunar exosphere

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and Technology

Context:

The lunar orbiter of India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, has made the first-ever observation of the effects of the sun's coronal mass ejection (CME) on the moon.

Read about:

Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2)

Coronal mass ejection (CME) 

Key takeaways:

• Chandra's Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2, or CHACE-2, is a fascinating scientific instrument designed to study the composition of Mars's upper atmosphere. Let me explain what makes this tool so important and how it works.
• CHACE-2 is part of the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), which is India's ambitious spacecraft that has been orbiting Mars since 2014. The primary role of this instrument is to analyze the atmosphere surrounding Mars, particularly focusing on the upper layers where the atmosphere gradually transitions into space.
• This region is crucial for understanding how Mars lost much of its atmosphere over billions of years—a process that fundamentally changed the planet from a potentially habitable world with liquid water to the dry, cold environment we see today.
• The instrument works by measuring the composition and density of atmospheric molecules and ions at various altitudes. CHACE-2 is equipped with sophisticated sensors that can detect different types of particles, including neutral atoms and molecules like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, as well as charged particles or ions.
• By analyzing these measurements, scientists can understand what elements are present in Mars's atmosphere and in what proportions, which helps paint a picture of the planet's atmospheric loss processes.
• What makes CHACE-2 particularly valuable is that it operates in conjunction with other instruments on the MOM spacecraft to provide a comprehensive view of Mars's atmospheric dynamics.
• The data it collects helps scientists understand processes like solar wind interaction with the atmosphere, which is believed to be one of the main mechanisms responsible for stripping away Mars's atmosphere over geological timescales.
• This information is essential not only for understanding Mars's past but also for planning future human missions, as atmospheric composition directly affects radiation exposure and other environmental factors that astronauts would face