Chandrayaan-2 finds strong evidence for ice in ‘doubly-shadowed’ lunar craters

Chandrayaan-2 has detected strong signs of underground ice hidden inside permanently dark lunar craters near the Moon’s south pole- a discovery that could aid future human missions.

New Delhi: Scientists analysing data from India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission have found strong evidence of underground ice deposits hidden beneath permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s south pole. The discovery is being seen as a major development for future lunar exploration and possible human settlements on the Moon.

Ice Found In ‘Doubly Shadowed’ Craters

The findings were made by researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad using radar data collected by the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, which has been circling the Moon since 2019.

Chandrayaan-2 Mission: ISRO finds strong evidence of hidden ice beneath Moon’s south pole

According to the study published in the journal npj Space Exploration, scientists identified possible subsurface ice deposits inside extremely cold craters that never receive sunlight. Some of these craters are located within larger permanently shadowed craters, creating what researchers describe as “doubly shadowed” regions.

Temperatures in these areas can drop to nearly minus 248 degrees Celsius, allowing ice to remain preserved for billions of years.

Special Radar Helped Detect Hidden Ice

The discovery was made using Chandrayaan-2’s Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR), a specialised instrument designed to study the lunar surface using microwave signals.

Instead of capturing images, the radar sends microwave pulses toward the Moon and analyses how the signals bounce back. Scientists said ice reflects radar signals differently from ordinary rock or lunar dust, helping them identify possible ice-rich regions.

Researchers studied nine craters and found four showing radar signatures consistent with underground ice.

Faustini Crater Shows Strongest Evidence

One crater inside the larger Faustini crater emerged as the most promising site. Scientists observed unusual lobed structures around the crater rim, suggesting an impact may have struck ice-rich ground beneath the surface.

India’s Chandrayaan-4 Mission: ISRO Plans Moon Sample Return by 2028

ISRO said the crater’s structure supports the possibility that buried ice was disturbed during a meteorite impact, creating the distinctive shape.

Why The Discovery Matters

The presence of water ice on the Moon is considered critical for future space missions. Ice can potentially provide drinking water for astronauts and may also be converted into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel production.

As global space agencies intensify plans for lunar exploration, the Moon’s south pole has become a key focus area for missions by India, NASA and China. ISRO said the findings could help identify future landing sites and support long-term in-situ resource utilisation efforts on the lunar surface.