The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), continues to push the boundaries of space exploration with its Chandrayaan-3 mission. Launched as a successor to Chandrayaan-2, this mission aimed to showcase ISRO’s capability in executing a controlled lunar landing and operating a rover on the Moon’s surface.

On August 23, 2023, India created history by achieving a soft landing near the Moon's south pole with Vikram lander and Pragyan rover carried by Chandrayaan-3. It placed India on an elite list after the US, Russia, and China to soft-land on the lunar surface.

New study reveals the ancient origins of Chandrayaan-3’s landing site

A study published in Nature on February 4, 2025, titled "India’s Moon Landing Site Dates to the Dawn of Life on Earth," sheds light on the geological importance of Chandrayaan-3’s landing zone. 

Researchers mapping the site have determined that the region is approximately 3.7 billion years old—dating back to the same era when early microscopic life was beginning to emerge on Earth.

The study, conducted by scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, presents the first detailed geological map of the landing area. Findings suggest that debris from the nearby Schomberger crater has shaped the terrain, offering fresh insights into the Moon’s history. Since the Moon lacks an atmosphere to shield it from space debris, meteorite impacts continually shape its surface, forming new craters and scattering material across vast distances.

Through extensive analysis, scientists have identified the Schomberger crater as the primary source of the debris covering Chandrayaan-3’s landing zone. The land in this region is covered with boulders, some reaching over five meters in size, originating from a recently formed 540-meter crater located 14 kilometers south of the landing site. Additionally, a nearby 10-meter-wide crater has been linked to smaller rock fragments, some mere centimeters in size.

Using this data, researchers have compiled a comprehensive geological map of the region, which could aid future lunar missions and deepen our understanding of the Moon’s evolution. 

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