New Delhi: India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission has made history by becoming the first spacecraft to directly observe the impact of a solar Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on the Moon.

On May 10, 2024, the mission’s Chandra’s Atmospheric Compositional Explorer-2 (CHACE-2) instrument detected a sharp increase in the density of neutral atoms in the Moon’s exosphere, the extremely thin layer of gas surrounding the lunar surface. Scientists say this increase, more than ten times the usual levels, matched earlier theoretical predictions, marking the first direct measurement of such an event.

Unlike Earth, the Moon lacks a global magnetic field and a substantial atmosphere, leaving its surface highly exposed to solar wind and radiation. These observations provide crucial insights into how space weather affects celestial bodies without protective shields, information that will be valuable for future lunar exploration and habitation plans.

Launched in 2019, Chandrayaan-2 continues to operate successfully in a 100 km by 100 km orbit, sending back data that expands our understanding of the lunar environment. Scientists believe these findings will play a key role in preparing for long-term missions on the Moon, especially as humans plan to venture there more frequently in the coming years.