NASA’s Discovery of Water on the Moon
By: Sarah Mahmood
Tags: NASA, Astronomy, Space, Moon, Space Exploration

Water molecules trapped in the lunar soil of the Clavius Crater on the moon (Credit: NASA)

NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, has confirmed the existence of water molecules on the sunlit surfaces of the moon. The water was previously discovered in shadowed, dark areas, up until recent events [1].

SOFIA, capable of reaching high altitudes into the Earth’s atmosphere, detected this resource in the sunny Clavius Crater, located in the southern hemisphere of the moon. The telescope used an infrared camera in order to distinguish the water’s signature features from that of hydroxyl, which is chemically similar to water’s components. As mentioned earlier, water molecules were only found in the darker areas and the poles of the moon; these findings were documented by earlier orbital and impactor missions like NASA’s Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite [2]. However, in present time, shaded regions “reveal water in concentrations of 100 to 412 parts per million — roughly equivalent to a 12-ounce bottle of water,” according to NASA. Furthermore, the water molecules, being so spread apart, are not in a liquid or solid state [3].

Additionally, scientists are questioning how the water was generated considering how the moon does not have a thick atmosphere, which would make the water lost in space. A possibility is that the water was brought by micrometeorites that collided with the moon, and the water became trapped in bead-like structures within the soil from the heat. Also, the water may have been trapped in the lunar soil, hiding it from the sun [3].

You may be wondering what this discovery means for us. By finding water in different areas, there are more water sources that may be used to provide for bases/permanent habitations that will be built. “If we can use the resources at the Moon, then we can carry less water and more equipment to help enable new scientific discoveries,” says NASA [2]. The elements in water, hydrogen, and oxygen can also be used to refuel space vehicles, which will save energy and reduce costs [1]. This discovery brings multiple advantages that will improve plans for the future. Moreover, future SOFIA flights will be in the search of water in more sunlit locations and during various lunar phases to learn more about the water’s process of being produced, stored, and more. The data will be used to create water resource maps for human space exploration [2]. Creating bases on the moon will have its challenges, however. The moon’s atmosphere contains at least 200 times the amount of radiation that a human would experience on earth, and it is actually airless! Therefore, the magnetic field is extremely weak, leaving little shielding or protection [4]. The safety of those participating in building permanent locations on the moon is a priority. Overall, the planning and execution of colonizing the moon will play a large role in leading us to plant more bases in other places within space; prior knowledge of the several factors one must account for to ensure safety and security will assist in future expeditions, too!

References:

[1] Gill, V. (2020, October 26). Water on the Moon could sustain a lunar base. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54666328

[2] Potter, S. (2020, October 26). NASA’s SOFIA Discovers Water on Sunlit Surface of Moon. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-sofia-discovers-water-on-sunlit-surface-of-moon/

[3] Chappell, B. (2020, October 26). Water On The Moon: NASA Confirms Water Molecules On Our Neighbor’s Sunny Surface. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2020/10/26/927869069/water-on-the-moon-nasa-confirms-water-molecules-on-our-neighbors-sunny-surface

[4] Boyle, Rebecca. (2020, October 22). Can a Moon Base Be Safe for Astronauts? Retrieved from www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-a-moon-base-be-safe-for-astronauts/.