Isro Throws Open Chandrayaan-3 Data For Research
In a major boost for lunar science, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released the complete dataset from Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover payloads for public access and research.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-09-01 17:58 GMT
Nellore: In a major boost for lunar science, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released the complete dataset from Chandrayaan-3 lander and rover payloads for public access and research. The move marks a new chapter in India’s space programme, allowing scientists across the country to analyse in-situ lunar data for the first time.
Launched on July 14, 2023, Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. Over the course of one lunar day (14 Earth days), the mission’s lander Vikram and rover Pragyan successfully deployed their payloads, conducting detailed studies of the landing site.
The lander payloads included instruments to measure lunar seismic activity, thermal conductivity and plasma environment. These provided insights into moonquakes, subsurface temperature variations and interactions of the lunar surface with solar radiation.
The rover payloads used spectrometers to determine the elemental composition of the lunar soil and rocks. Their findings confirmed the presence of sulphur and other elements, enhancing understanding of the Moon’s geology and evolution.
The dataset, peer-reviewed and validated by domain experts, is available on ISRO’s PRADAN portal (https://pradan.issdc.gov.in/ch3 ).
To maximise the science output, ISRO has issued an Announcement of Opportunity (AO), inviting proposals from Indian researchers, universities, and institutions.
Selected projects will receive limited funding support, research fellowships and access to computational resources. Proposals must focus on innovative scientific analysis of Chandrayaan-3 data. They should be submitted by October 21, 2025.
The lander payloads included instruments to measure lunar seismic activity, thermal conductivity and plasma environment. These provided insights into moonquakes, subsurface temperature variations and interactions of the lunar surface with solar radiation.
The rover payloads used spectrometers to determine the elemental composition of the lunar soil and rocks. Their findings confirmed the presence of sulphur and other elements, enhancing understanding of the Moon’s geology and evolution.
The dataset, peer-reviewed and validated by domain experts, is available on ISRO’s PRADAN portal (https://pradan.issdc.
To maximise the science output, ISRO has issued an Announcement of Opportunity (AO), inviting proposals from Indian researchers, universities, and institutions.
Selected projects will receive limited funding support, research fellowships and access to computational resources. Proposals must focus on innovative scientific analysis of Chandrayaan-3 data. They should be submitted by October 21, 2025.