NASA scientists announce the first clear obscure probe into water molecules on the lunar surface – a breakthrough that could help ease crew missions to Mars.
The moon lacks a body of liquid water that identifies the Earth, but NASA scientists said Monday that the moon’s water is wider than previously known, water molecules are trapped inside mineral grains on the surface and more water is probably hidden in ice ice layers. In permanent shadows.
Research 11 years ago suggests that a small amount of water on the moon was relatively widespread, a team of scientists is now reporting the first obscure investigation of water molecules on the lunar surface. At the same time, another team is reporting that the moon has about 40,000 square kilometers. (15,400sq miles) There are permanent shadows that could potentially save pockets hidden in the form of ice.
Water is an invaluable resource and the presence of a relatively abundant moon can prove to be important for future astronauts and robotic missions seeking to supply and use water for purposes such as supplying drinking or fuel components.
A high-resolution mosaic of our Moon’s polar region can be seen in this undated handout image taken by scientists using a camera in NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. [File: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University/Handout via Reuters]
A team led by Casey Honeybill of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland discovered nuclear water inside the natural spectacles or on the surface of the moon trapped between debris. Previous observations encountered ambiguity between water and its nuclear cousin hydroxyl, but a new discovery used a method that did not yield a clear result.
The only way for this water to stay on the lunar surfaces of sunlight was to be embedded inside the mineral grain, protecting it from freezing and foreboding environments. The researchers used data from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a Boeing 7SP7 SP aircraft, which was converted to carry a telescope and served as an aerial observer.
“A lot of people think that what I’ve investigated is water ice, which isn’t true. They are just water molecules – because they are so diffused that they do not communicate with each other to form water ice or liquid water, “said Honibel.
The second study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, focuses on so-called cold traps on the moon, its surface areas that are in a state of darkness where temperatures are below -163C (-260F). It is so cold that stagnant water can remain stagnant for billions of years.
Using data from NASA’s lunar reconnaissance bitbiter spacecraft, researchers led by University of Colorado planetary scientist Pa Hay Le Han discovered Boulder that it could be billions of tiny shadows, no bigger than many small coins. Located in most of the polar regions.
“Our research shows that a number of previously unfamiliar regions of the moon can capture the ice caps of humans.” “Our results suggest that water in the lunar polar regions may be wider than previously thought, making it easier to access, extract and analyze.”
NASA is planning the return of astronauts to the moon, a mission that will pave the way for a rear journey by taking a crew to Mars. Accessible sources where water can be harvested on the moon are beneficial for the effort.
“Water is not limited to the polar region. It’s more widespread than we think, “said Honibel.
Another mystery that remains unsolved is the source of lunar water.
“The emergence of water on the moon is one of the big questions we are trying to answer through this and other research,” Hayne said. “Currently, the main contenders are comets, asteroids or small inter-dust particles, solar winds and the moon itself caused by volcanic eruptions.”
Earth is a wet world, with vast salty seas, vast freshwater lakes, and ice caps that act as reservoirs.
Hayne added, “As a companion to our nearest planet, understanding the origin of water on the moon can also shed light on the origin of Earth’s water – it is still an open question of planetary science.”
.
