The recent study conducted by Prof Hu Sen and his team at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics has provided new evidence suggesting the existence of a water reservoir beneath the surface of the Moon. The study analyzed glass bead samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 lunar lander in 2020 and found them to contain water. These glass beads, also known as impact glass, formed from the collisions of asteroids on the Moon millions of years ago.
The findings of the study, published in the Nature Geoscience journal, suggest that the impact glasses on the Moon’s surface, as well as other airless bodies in the solar system, have the capacity to store solar wind-derived water and release it into space. This is significant because if water is present on the Moon, it could potentially be used as a resource for future missions, including those with longer durations.
Previous lunar missions have revealed the presence of structural water and ice water, including through the study of fine mineral grains in lunar soils and volcanic rocks. However, these discoveries have not been able to fully explain the retention, release, and replenishment of water on the surface of the Moon. The discovery of water in the impact glass beads suggests the existence of an as-yet-unidentified water reservoir that brings water up to the surface.
The discovery of water on the Moon is of great importance to space exploration, as it could have significant implications for our understanding of the formation of the solar system. It could also help in establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, as water is a critical resource for human survival. Future missions to the Moon could potentially use this water for drinking, agriculture, and the production of rocket fuel.
This is not the first time that samples collected by the Chinese lunar lander have hinted at the presence of water on the Moon. A previous study showed that lunar dust and rocks collected by Chang’e-5 contained water in the form of hydroxyl, an important element of liquid water. The discovery of water in the impact glass beads further reinforces the likelihood of the presence of water on the Moon and highlights the importance of continued exploration and study of our nearest neighbour in space.
About Author
