Context

The Pragyan rover has found numerous small rock fragments in the Moon's southern high-latitude region at the "Shiva Shakti" point.

Key Highlights

• The fragments were found scattered around the wall slopes and floor of small craters, each no larger than 2 meters in diameter.
• Two of the rock fragments showed signs of degradation, suggesting they have been subjected to space weathering.

 Importance of this discovery

• This finding shed light on the distribution and origin of rock fragments present on the moon.
• It marks a significant advancement in our understanding of lunar geology.
• It demonstrates the importance of in-situ exploration in advancing lunar science.
• It provides comprehensive understanding of the Moon's geological processes and surface composition.

Chandrayaan-3

Other lunar mission programmes of India:

• Chandrayaan-1 Launch: 2008
• Chandrayaan-2 Launch: 2019
• Chandrayaan-4 Launch: 2028