Moon’s Hidden Ice Revealed: Chandrayaan‑2 Uncovers Subsurface Water at Lunar South Pole

Representative Image

ISRO’s Chandrayaan‑2 orbiter has provided strong evidence of buried water‑ice beneath the Moon’s south polar craters, especially inside the 1.1 km‑wide Faustini crater, using advanced radar scans. This breakthrough could be crucial for future lunar missions, resource utilization, and even human habitation.

The Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) on the Chandrayaan‑2 orbiter is a special radar camera that uses microwave signals to study the Moon. It works in two frequency ranges called L‑band and S‑band and is the first radar of its kind to give a complete picture of the Moon’s surface.

Scientists used it to study “doubly shadowed craters” — deep holes inside areas that never get sunlight. Because these places stay extremely cold (around ‑248°C), they can hold water‑ice for billions of years, making them important for future space missions.

Key Findings

India’s lunar exploration programme has achieved another significant scientific breakthrough, with scientists analysing Chandrayaan-2 data finding strong evidence of subsurface water-ice beneath craters near the Moon’s South Pole.

The discovery, made using the Dual Frequency… pic.twitter.com/jJ2OwNl9is

— PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) May 29, 2026

• Instrument Used: Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR), the first fully polarimetric radar system to study the Moon.
• Location: Permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) near the south pole, where temperatures drop to ~25K (‑248°C).
• Evidence: Radar polarimetric analysis showed Circular Polarization Ratio (CPR > 1) and Degree of Polarization (DOP < 0.13) — signatures consistent with subsurface ice.
• Strongest Signal: A 1.1 km crater inside Faustini displayed lobate‑rim morphology, suggesting an impact penetrated subsurface ice.

Why It Matters

• Future Missions: Buried ice could supply drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel, reducing dependence on Earth launches.
• Global Space Race: The Moon’s south pole is already a prime target for NASA’s Artemis program and other international missions.
• India’s Role: This discovery strengthens ISRO’s position as a key player in global lunar exploration, complementing Chandrayaan‑3’s success and India’s Space Vision 2047 roadmap.

Technical Insights

Feature	Details
DFSAR Radar	Operates in L‑ and S‑bands, penetrates up to 2 meters below surface.
Target Regions	“Doubly shadowed craters” — craters inside larger PSRs, never exposed to sunlight.
Temperature	~25K (‑248°C), ideal for preserving ice for billions of years.
Detection Method	CPR & DOP values distinguish ice from rocky terrain.

Challenges Ahead

• Extreme Cold: Equipment must withstand temperatures near absolute zero.
• Accessibility: Ice is buried beneath crater floors, not easily scoopable.
• Verification: Future missions must confirm deposits with direct sampling.

📸 Visual Context