| Chandrayaan-1 is the first Indian mission to the Moon devoted to high-resolution remote sensing of the lunar surface features in visible, near-infrared, X-ray and low energy gamma ray regions. This will be accomplished using several payloads already selected for the mission.
Specific areas of study:
1. High resolution mineralogical and chemical imaging of permanently shadowed north and south polar regions.
2. Search for surface or sub-surface water ice on the Moon, especially at the poles.
3. Identification of chemical-end members of lunar high-land rocks.
4. Chemical stratigraphy of lunar crust by remote sensing of central upland of large lunar craters, South Pole Aitken Region (SPAR) etc., where interior material may be expected.
5. To map the height variation of the lunar surface features along the satellite track.
6. Observation of X-ray spectrum greater than 10 keV and stereographic coverage of most of the moon's surface with 5 m resolution, to provide new insights in understanding the moon's origin and evolution. |
