NASA published the results of the study of data obtained from the LCROSS spacecraft launch experiment and a missile on the Moon's surface in September 2009. Accordingly, the rock or geology in some areas of the Moon can contain up to 5% of frozen water. This is an important amount of water, enough to supply a Space Station on the Moon.
The water on the moon is enough to supply a space station. (Photo: wikimedia )
The LCROSS and the missile are tasked to explore and provide information about the crater Cabeus at the southern tip of the Moon.
The shooting of the rocket into the volcano Cabeus made a large amount of rock and dust in the area fly into the air. Later, NASA scientists used a different spacecraft, the LRO, to fly over and collect materials fired from the hole Cabeus and found out there were about 155 kilograms of steam and ice water and some objects. another substance.
" This finding is extremely important because it is an important premise for building a Space Station on the Moon. With a ton of rock containing 5% freezing water, you can extract 40 to 45 liters. Water for domestic astronauts , 'said Dr. Anthony Colaprete, NASA's Ames Research Center.
NASA scientists said the amount of freezing water is not evenly distributed in the polar region of the Moon. This freezing water is mostly bad in oases like the crater Cabeus because these areas have very low, below-244 degrees Celsius. In such conditions, ice can exist for billions of years.
However, researchers speculate that ice may also exist in some areas with higher temperatures due to receiving sunlight. Freezing water in these areas may be chosen buried deep beneath the layers of rock.
" The discovery of ice in areas of light can assist future human and robot adventures because the ice could become a source of water for adventures. "It is possible to land in areas with sunlight and only drill a bit deep into the surface of the Moon to find ice ," said Dr David Paige, a member of the research team.