Students of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have broken new ground in lunar science by successfully mapping the Moon’s surface chemistry using data from India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission.
The breakthrough came as part of the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) challenge set by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) during the Inter-IIT Tech Meet. The exercise has not only given students hands-on experience with real mission data but also unlocked fresh insights into the Moon’s composition.
The lunar surface, constantly bombarded by intense solar X-rays due to the absence of an atmosphere, emits its own distinct signatures through a natural process known as X-ray fluorescence. ISRO’s Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) aboard Chandrayaan-2 has harnessed this effect to survey the Moon from 100 km above, generating a comprehensive dataset over successive orbits.
Much of this material, hosted on ISRO’s Pradan portal, had remained under-utilised until the IIT Bombay team applied advanced astrophysics and data analysis techniques to extract meaningful results.
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“It was simultaneously exhilarating and humbling to be working with data from ISRO's flagship Chandrayaan mission. Every step felt like we were contributing to something monumental -- a once-in-a-lifetime experience that connected us directly to India's space exploration legacy,” said Ravi Kumar, lead student of the winning team.
Guiding the project, Prof Varun Bhalerao of IIT Bombay praised the effort: “Our students applied advanced astrophysics and data analysis techniques to extract meaningful surface chemistry information from complex X-ray spectra. Their dedication to transforming competition results into publishable research exemplifies the best of scientific inquiry.”
IIT Bombay Director, Prof Shireesh Kedare, hailed the achievement, saying the students had “demonstrated that when given the opportunity, they consistently rise to meet the most challenging scientific problems.”
Deputy Director Prof Milind Atrey added, “As we celebrate the second National Space Day, this achievement perfectly showcases how India's young talent will drive our nation's space program to new heights through innovation and excellence.”
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