Students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have developed detailed maps of the Moon’s surface chemistry. The team used data from Chandrayan 2, a project now moving toward international publication.
The major breakthrough originated at the annual Inter-IIT Tech Meet, where teams from top Indian institutes competed on problem statements provided by leading organisations.
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) challenged participants to analyse Chandrayaan-2’s Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) data.
IIT Bombay’s team won the contest with their systematic analysis and innovative methods.
WORKING WITH DATA RECIEVED FROM CHANDRAYAAN-2
Chandrayaan-2’s CLASS instrument records X-ray fluorescence, a process where lunar surface elements emit unique signals when struck by solar X-rays.
Over years of operation, CLASS collected a near-global dataset of the Moon, accessible via ISRO’s Pradan portal.
While the data had been available, its deeper potential had not been fully realised.
The IIT Bombay students applied advanced data analysis techniques to decode chemical signatures across the lunar surface.
Their work produced meaningful insights into the distribution of key elements, enhancing understanding of lunar geology and evolution.
THE WORK IS READY TO BE PUBLISHED
Recognising the importance of their findings, the students worked closely with faculty mentors and ISRO experts to refine their results. The collaboration has led to peer-reviewed research now under consideration by the Planetary Science Journal.
“These students showed the precision and persistence required in frontline science,” said Prof. Varun Bhalerao of IIT Bombay, who guided the post-competition research. “They went beyond winning a contest to contribute research of genuine scientific value.”
IIT Bombay’s Director, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, described the achievement as evidence of how academic training and real mission data can converge. Deputy Director Prof. Milind Atrey noted the timing, as the nation marks its second National Space Day, calling it “a demonstration of how young talent can strengthen India’s space program.”
The refined lunar chemistry maps will be valuable for future ISRO missions and international collaborations. As India prepares for more lunar and planetary projects, such academic contributions highlight how students and researchers are directly shaping the country’s space science capabilities.
What began as a student contest now stands as a milestone in applied space research—bridging competition, classroom, and national scientific progress.
