Insta
In Its Lunar Mission Which Involves Landing On Moon, ISRO To Find A Trillion-Dollar Nuclear Fuel
Swarajya Staff
Jun 28, 2018, 03:51 PM | Updated 03:51 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
In its second lunar mission, which is set to lift-off in October this year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will look for a trillion dollar nuclear fuel which can meet the energy needs of the world for 250 years, Mint reports.
The Rs 800-crore Chandrayaan-2 mission will carry a six-wheeled rover which will move around the landing site in semi-autonomous mode.
The rover, which will land on the South side of the Moon, will scan the lunar surface for traces of helium-3, an isotope integral to developing fusion energy on Earth.
“It is thought that this isotope could provide safer nuclear energy in a fusion reactor, since it is not radioactive and would not produce dangerous waste products,’’ the European Space Agency has said.
Solar winds gave brought large quantities of helium-3 to the moon’s surface as it is not protected by a magnetic field like Earth is.
The rover will start sending data back to the Earth via the orbiter 15 minutes after landing. Only the United States, Russia and China have been able to soft-land spacecraft on the Moon till date.
The presence of helium-3 on the moon was confirmed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Apollo mission.
The launch of the mission, which was originally scheduled for April, was postponed after experts suggested some more tests in March.
India’s first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1, was launched in 2008.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.