New research from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has revealed that ice deposits on the Moon are more widespread than we previously thought.
This discovery could be a game-changer for future lunar missions.
Ice can be used to protect astronauts from radiation, provide water for drinking and producing breathable air, and even be turned into rocket fuel by splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen.
Previous studies had already found signs of ice in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) near the Moon’s South Pole, especially in large craters like Cabeus, Haworth, Shoemaker, and Faustini.
However, this new analysis shows that water ice could also be found in PSRs beyond the South Pole, as far as 77 degrees south latitude.
Dr. Timothy P. McClanahan from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the lead researcher, explained that their study helps identify where ice is most likely to be found on the lunar surface.
The research highlights that the highest concentrations of ice are expected in the coldest parts of PSRs, where temperatures fall below 75 Kelvin (or -198°C). These areas, usually on slopes that face the poles, could hold valuable ice deposits.
While it’s hard to tell how much ice is below the surface or if it’s buried under layers of lunar dust, McClanahan suggests there could be at least five quarts of ice within the top meter of surface for every square meter of land in these regions.
The team believes that ice on the Moon likely came from a variety of sources, including comet and meteorite impacts or reactions between lunar dust and solar wind.
PSRs are areas that have been in permanent shadow for billions of years, keeping their surfaces extremely cold and allowing ice to accumulate.
To detect these ice deposits, the researchers used LRO’s Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND). This instrument measures neutrons that are created when cosmic rays hit the lunar surface. By observing how neutrons interact with hydrogen in the lunar regolith, scientists can get an idea of where ice may be located.
This new research will help future lunar explorers by showing where ice can be mined, making human exploration of the Moon more sustainable.
Source: NASA.
