Chandrayaan-3: Vikram kicked up over 2-tonne lunar soil

The Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3 created a “reflectance anomaly” or “ejecta halo” when it touched down on the Moon’s surface on August 23. Scientists estimate that about 2.06 tonnes of lunar epi-regolith were ejected and displaced over an area of 108.4 m² around the landing site. By studying high-resolution images from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, researchers were able to characterize the ejecta halo. This discovery provides insights into lunar geology and the impact of lunar landings on the surface.