A recent study conducted by scientists at the Space Applications Center (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has revealed important findings regarding the presence of water ice on the Moon.

1. The study was carried out by the scientists of Space Applications Centre (SAC)/ISRO, in collaboration with researchers at IIT Kanpur, University of Southern California, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

Key Points:

1. Subsurface Ice Abundance: The study shows that the amount of subsurface ice in the 1st few meters is about 5 to 8 times greater than the amount of ice present on the surface of both lunar poles.
2. Polar Region Comparison: The extent of water ice in the northern polar region is twice that in the southern polar region.
3. Drilling Implications: Drilling on the Moon to sample or excavate that ice will be crucial for future missions and long-term human presence.
4. Origin Hypothesis: The study confirms the hypothesis that the primary source of subsurface water ice at the lunar poles emerged during volcanism in the Imbrian period.
5. Instruments Used: The research team used 7 instruments on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to understand the origin and distribution of water ice on the Moon.

What is the Space Applications Centre?

The Space Applications Centre (SAC) is one of the major research and development centers of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

1. Establishment: The Space Applications Centre (SAC) was officially established in 1972. However, its roots lie in the Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station (ESCES) set up in 1966 by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program.
2. Headquarters: The headquarters of SAC is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Focus Areas:

SAC specialises in the following areas:

1. Space-borne Instruments: Designing and developing instruments for use onboard satellites used in ISRO missions.
2. Societal Applications of Space Technology: Developing practical applications using space technology to benefit various aspects of Indian society.  These applications include:
   1. Communication: Satellite-based communication systems for broadcasting, telephony, and networking.
   2. Navigation: Navigation systems like India's own NavIC system (similar to GPS).
   3. Disaster Monitoring: Using satellite data for early warning and management of natural disasters.
   4. Meteorology: Weather forecasting and climate modeling.
   5. Oceanography:  Monitoring oceans, marine resources, and coastal studies.
   6. Environment Monitoring:  Environmental assessment, pollution studies, and conservation efforts.
   7. Natural Resources Survey:  Mapping and evaluating land use, forests, minerals, and water resources.

Key Contributions:

SAC has been instrumental in several groundbreaking achievements for ISRO, including:

1. Scientific and Planetary Missions: Contributions to flagship missions like Chandrayaan-1 (Lunar orbiter) and the Mars Orbiter Mission.
2. Free-Space Quantum Communication: Demonstration of secure communication using quantum technology, a significant step in secure data transmission.

Facilities:

SAC boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, including:

1. Payload integration laboratories
2. Electronic and mechanical fabrication facilities
3. Environmental test facilities
4. Image processing and analysis labs
5. Project management support
6. Extensive library resources

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