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Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1
Clark, R. N.; Head, J. W.; Kumar, S. +26 more
The search for water on the surface of the anhydrous Moon had remained an unfulfilled quest for 40 years. However, the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on Chandrayaan-1 has recently detected absorption features near 2.8 to 3.0 micrometers on the surface of the Moon. For silicate bodies, such features are typically attributed to hydroxyl- and…
Extremely high reflection of solar wind protons as neutral hydrogen atoms from regolith in space
Barabash, Stas; Holmström, Mats; Futaana, Yoshifumi +7 more
We report on measurements of extremely high reflection rates of solar wind particles from regolith-covered lunar surfaces. Measurements by the Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) instrument on the Indian Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft in orbit around the Moon show that up to 20% of the impinging solar wind protons are reflected from the lunar surfac…
The C1XS X-ray Spectrometer on Chandrayaan-1
Grande, M.; Foing, B.; Huovelin, J. +27 more
The Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) is a compact X-ray spectrometer for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. It exploits heritage from the D-CIXS instrument on ESA's SMART-1 mission. As a result of detailed developments to all aspects of the design, its performance as measured in the laboratory greatly…
The scientific rationale for the C1XS X-ray spectrometer on India's Chandrayaan-1 mission to the moon
Grande, M.; Koschny, D.; Rothery, D. A. +23 more
The UK-built Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) will fly as an ESA instrument on India's Chandrayaan-1 mission to the Moon, launched in October 2008. C1XS builds on experience gained with the earlier D-CIXS instrument on SMART-1, but will be a scientifically much more capable instrument. Here we describe the scientific objectives of this inst…
Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS)—Instrument design and technical details
Grande, M.; Huovelin, J.; Howe, C. J. +13 more
The UK-built Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) is flying as an ESA instrument on India's Chandrayaan-1 mission to the Moon. The Chandrayaan-1 mission launched on the 22nd October 2008 and entered a 100 km polar lunar orbit on the 12th November 2008. C1XS builds on experience gained with the earlier D-CIXS instrument on SMART-1, but will be a…
Ground calibration of the Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Solar Monitor (XSM)
Andersson, H.; Grande, M.; Alha, L. +9 more
The Chandrayaan-1 XSM ground calibrations are introduced. The aim of these calibrations was to characterize the performance of XSM, which enables a reliable spectral analysis with the solar X-ray data. The calibrations followed an improved procedure based on our experience from the SMART-1 XSM. The most important tasks in the calibrations were det…
Characterization and selection of CZT detector modules for HEX experiment onboard Chandrayaan-1
Sreekumar, P.; Sudhakar, M.; Shanmugam, M. +4 more
We present the results of characterization of a large sample of Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) detector modules planned to be used for the HEX (High Energy X-ray spectrometer) experiment onboard India's first mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-1. We procured forty modules from Orbotech Medical Solutions Ltd. and carried out a detailed characterization…
The effect of protons on the performance of swept-charge devices
Smith, David R.; Gow, Jason
The e2v technologies CCD54, or swept-charge device (SCD) has been extensively radiation tested for use in the Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) instrument, to be launched as a part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chandrayaan-1 payload in 2008. The principle use of the SCD is in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) applications, the devi…
Another giant leap for mankind
Spudis, Paul D.
Three spacecraft are currently orbiting the Moon, Chang'e-1 from China, Kaguya from Japan and Chandrayaan-1 from India. The American Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will join them later this year. Russia is developing lunar rover hardware, for itself and for other countries. In Europe, both Germany and the UK are contemplating their own lunar mission…
India analyses loss of lunar orbiter
Ramachandran, Ramaseshan
After a flawless launch last year, Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar orbiter, has come to a disappointing end. In the early hours of 29 August, the tracking network of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) lost its link with the satellite, just 312 days into a planned two-year mission. However, ISRO scientists have concluded that the 11 o…