Scientists at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed lunar soil samples taken in 2020 by the Chang’e 5 mission.
Sputnik Brazil – Chinese researchers have discovered elements that point to the existence of a frozen water reserve of about 270 billion tons on the surface of the Moon, according to research published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed samples of lunar soil obtained in 2020 by the Chang’e 5 mission, the first Chinese probe to reach the area called Mount Rumker, where in 1976 the Soviet Luna 24 probe landed. to collect lunar samples.
According to the article scientific, the water was located in impact crystals that would have formed as a result of intense volcanic activity that occurred in the past, which was followed by the cooling of the lunar rocks caused by the constant bombardment of micrometeoroids and large meteoroids.
When these spheres come into contact with the solar wind, a water cycle process begins on the Moon, and the liquid is absorbed by the crystal sphereswhich act as a kind of sponge.
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“Water derived from the solar wind is produced by the reaction of solar hydrogen with oxygen present on the surface of lunar crystalline spheres,” explained Sem Hu, from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, co-author of the investigation.
It is estimated that a similar phenomenon may have occurred on planets like Mercury or on celestial bodies like the asteroid Vesta. The researchers estimate that, for every million crystals, 2,000 store water, while for every ton of lunar soil, 2 kg of crystals with water would be found.
Thus, on the entire Moon there may be a reserve of 270 billion tons of water, which is why it is already planned, in future manned missions, to carry out experiments to find out whether it is possible to extract it and, in this way, create conditions that allow progress to be made. in space exploration.
“Water is the most coveted asset to allow sustainable exploration of planetary surfaces. Knowing how this water is produced, stored and distributed on the lunar surface would be very useful for future explorers to be able to extract it and use it for exploration purposes. “, said Sem Hu.
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