India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission has uncovered a groundbreaking finding: the lunar surface exhibits no heat conductivity, making it an ideal “thermal blanket” for potential human habitats on the Moon. This discovery could be pivotal for future lunar colonization efforts, as it suggests that the Moon’s surface material could be used to create temperature-controlled environments.
Preliminary data from the ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) payload, while yet to be fully published, has shown a significant temperature difference of nearly 60°C between the Moon’s surface and just 10 centimeters below it. This indicates that the lunar surface does not conduct heat, a property that could be harnessed to maintain stable temperatures within habitats built beneath it.
According to a senior scientist from the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO), this non-conductivity could allow for the creation of habitats where any generated heat remains trapped, similar to how a blanket retains warmth during cold nights.
The ChaSTE experiment, conducted over 14 days, involved placing 10 sensors at 1 cm intervals and recording temperature variations as the Sun passed over the Moon. The findings provide the first detailed insight into the Moon’s actual thermal conductivity, reinforcing the potential for using the lunar surface as a natural insulator.
Given the extreme temperature fluctuations on the Moon—ranging from 121°C during the day to as low as -133°C at night, and even -246°C in deep craters—this discovery could play a crucial role in designing future lunar habitats that can withstand these harsh conditions.
