A team of Chinese scientists has researched the soil sample that they got from the moon and identified that there was a kind of mineral and water in its molecular form present.
This sample was retrieved during the Chang'e-5 mission, which proved that the Lunar surface has the existence of water in the form of the molecule according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
This research was conducted by the Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and the Institute of Physics of CAS. Their research paper was published in the journal Nature Astronomy on July 16, according to reports by the South China Morning Post.
In 2020, the lunar sample that returned on the Chang'e-5 rover revealed the lunar surface to be hydrated mineral enriched with molecular water. In this same year NASA also also announced the discovery of water on the surface of the moon.
This claim was made after analyzing data obtained from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, which detected water molecules in the Clavius crater located in the Moon's southern hemisphere.
In 2009, during India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission, the presence of hydrated minerals in the form of oxygen and hydrogen was detected. This discovery came from the analysis of over 1,000 mineral clasts extracted from lunar soil. Along with this, there was the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), which also identified the presence of water on the lunar surface.
Among these samples, a plate-like transparent crystal, referred to as an “unknown lunar mineral” (ULM-1), was identified as containing water molecules. Scientists dismissed the possibility of terrestrial contamination or rocket exhaust being the water's source, suggesting that the water is genuinely of lunar origin.
This discovery contributes to the increasing amount of proof that the Moon, which was previously believed to be entirely dry, really contains water in different forms. The Moon's water molecule content presents fascinating opportunities for upcoming missions, such as the possibility of using in-situ resources to maintain a prolonged human presence on the lunar surface.
This finding is extremely noteworthy since it sheds light on the existence of water on the moon, which may have ramifications for future lunar exploration and possible resource use.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
