[ad_1]
Water may be more common on the moon than previously thought, providing “everything NASA needs” for future lunar missions.
The natural supplies of water there would allow astronauts to hydrate and help provide fuel for others space Projects.
Researchers have suggested that, in some cases, small patches of ice may exist in permanent shadows no larger than a penny.
These lunar phenomena, called cold traps, are shadowy regions on the moon’s surface that exist in a state of eternal darkness.
But the only way to prove its existence could be by astronauts exploring the surface or by robotic missions.
Many of the cold traps are believed to have been without a single ray of sunlight for billions of years.
Scientists believe there may be many more pitfalls than previous data had suggested.
Paul Hayne, an assistant professor in the laboratory of atmospheric and space physics at the University of Colorado Boulder, said: “If we are right, the water will be more accessible for drinking, for rocket fuel, everything. POT need water for.
“If you can imagine yourself standing on the surface of the moon near one of its poles, you would see shadows everywhere. Many of those little shadows could be filled with ice.”
Based on data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a robotic spacecraft that maps the moon’s surface, the researchers estimate that the moon could host around 15,000 square miles (38,850 square kilometers) of permanent shadows in various shapes and sizes.
According to scientists, these could be reservoirs capable of conserving water through ice.
The team found that small-scale micro cold traps, some as wide as 1 cm, are hundreds or thousands of times more numerous than larger cold traps and can be found at both poles.
Scientists say the findings indicate that water is produced or transported to the Moon through various processes, and it is likely stored in cold traps.
However, the researchers said the only way to prove that these shadows actually contain ice packs would be to go there in person or with robotic excavators.
Professor Hayne said: “Astronauts may not need to step into these deep dark shadows.
“They could walk around and find one that’s a meter wide and probably has ice.”
[ad_2]