Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR)
1. Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR)
Why In News:
A study published in May 2026 by scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has utilized data from the Chandrayaan-2 Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) to confirm the presence of subsurface ice sheets in the Moon's South Polar Region.
Prelims Ready Notes:
The DFSAR is a high-resolution microwave imaging instrument operating on dual L- and S-band frequencies aboard the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.
Notably, it stands as the first fully-polarimetric SAR deployed to study the lunar surface.
Aim:
to map and investigate the lunar topography, surface roughness, and subsurface material composition.
to explore permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) and doubly shadowed craters at the poles to identify, quantify, and map volatiles like water-ice, which are crucial for long-term human survival and fuel production on the Moon.
Doubly Shadowed Craters:
These are unique, localized sub-craters nested entirely inside the broader Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) of the Moon.
They maintain ultra-cold temperatures of approximately 25 K, acting as excellent cold-traps to preserve water-ice over long geological periods.