Two new studies are fundamentally changing our understanding of the moon.
The new knowledge could be of central importance for further space missions.
Two new
studies are
fundamentally
changing our knowledge of the existence of
water
on the
moon
.
The new findings have important implications for the planning of
manned expeditions to the moon
.
The results were published in the
journal
Nature Astronomy
.
Washington DC - It is a very special
discovery
that was announced by
NASA
on Monday (October 27th): On the
moon
there are probably much larger water resources than previously assumed.
This discovery was made possible by “
Sofia
” - a modified
Boeing
747SP
jet airliner equipped with a 106-inch telescope that
flies at an altitude of up to 13,700 meters.
This enables the
aircraft
to leave behind the water vapor in the earth's atmosphere
, which
interferes with measurements.
The flying observatory is a joint project of the
US space agency NASA
* and the
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
.
As announced on Monday (October 26th), a team of researchers led by the scientist Casey Honnuball was able to use this aircraft to
detect
molecular
water
on the surface of the
moon
during a measurement flight on August 31, 2018
.
The special thing is that the molecular water was
detected
in the area of the
moon
, which is
illuminated
by the
sun
.
The measurements were carried out at the
crater Clavius
- the second largest crater visible from Earth - in the southern highlands of the moon.
Exploring the Moon - New Study Detects Water Molecules
We just announced that - for the first time - we've confirmed H2O💧 in sunlit☀️ areas of the Moon.
This indicates that water might be distributed across the lunar surface.
https://t.co/Gn0DSu5K95
- NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) October 26, 2020
The
researchers
concerned
report in detail
about their discovery
in the journal
"Nature Astronomy"
.
The water molecules could be detected in tiny glass spheres and between the grains of the moon dust.
The concentration of the molecules is very low, but nonetheless: For the first time, water could be detected in an area illuminated by the sun, in which it is up to 120 degrees Celsius.
A clear comparison was also provided: “The amount of water that 'Sofia' discovered corresponds to the contents of a 0.33 liter beverage can, spread over the surface of a soccer field,” explains project scientist at
DLR space management Alessandra Roy
.
This discovery could have far-reaching implications for other
space missions
.
The
USA
,
China
and
Russia
are planning
to return
to the
moon
with humans
.
The
NASA
plan to do so within the framework of the
"Artemis" program
already for the middle of the decade (2024).
Whether this will be implemented, however, also depends on the outcome of the
presidential election
on November 2nd.
The detection of water is of particular interest because the
resources that exist
on the
moon
could be used
for such an expedition
.
Transporting it from the
earth
would be very costly.
Water on the moon - new knowledge important for planned space missions
The discovery of water as part of the
research project
described is
preceded by a series of studies that have already given indications that there is water on the
moon
.
On the one hand, research into the lunar rock that the "Apollo" brought to earth made it possible to detect a small amount of water.
On the other hand, the space probes "
Chandrayaan-1
", "
Deep Impact
" and "
Cassini
" have discovered indications of the existence of water on the
moon
.
At that time, however, a problem arose: the measurements could not distinguish between water molecules, which consist of two hydrogen and one oxygen atoms, and hydroxyl radicals, which only consist of one hydrogen and one oxygen atom.
The reason was the type of measurement: a wavelength of infrared radiation was used that does not allow any distinction.
For the latest
measurement
, the “
Sofia
”
stratospheric telescope was used
and a wavelength was used with which water molecules could be unequivocally detected.
"Now we know it's there," commented the director of the astrophysics department in the directorate for science missions at NASA headquarters in Washington - Paul Hertz - on this.
NEWS: We confirmed water on the sunlit surface of the Moon for the 1st time using @SOFIAtelescope.
We don't know yet if we can use it as a resource, but learning about water on the Moon is key for our #Artemis exploration plans.
Join the media telecon at https://t.co/vOGoSHt74c pic.twitter.com/7p2QopMhod
- Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) October 26, 2020
NASA with new findings - more water than expected on the moon
Why there is
water
at all
in areas that are
illuminated
by the
sun
has not been clarified beyond all doubt.
However, there are several
theories
.
Actually, it should evaporate from the sun's rays.
On the one hand, it is assumed that small amounts of water
that is deposited in the rock reach
the
moon
via micrometeorites
.
It is also believed that larger impacts on the moon's surface carry water from deeper layers of the moon to the surface.
The solar wind could also bring hydrogen atoms to the moon, where they become water molecules.
It has been known for a long time that there is water in the form of ice *, especially at the south pole of the moon.
It is located there in so-called "cold traps" - places that are permanently in shadow, such as the inside of lunar craters.
There are also new findings on this topic: In a new article in “
Nature Astronomy”
, researchers led by
Paul Hayne
report
that larger areas than previously thought could be cold traps.
It is assumed that the
water
existing at the lunar poles is
more widespread than previously thought.
In total, around 40,000 square meters of the moon's surface could serve as "cold traps".
This is particularly
relevant
in connection with the planned manned
lunar expeditions
: their implementation would be made easier if the astronauts
could use
water
on the
moon
.
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