The space missions of NASA and other space agencies, have been characterized by innovating in their discoveries. Over the years, new and brilliant revelations have not only shocked the public, but the scientific community in general. Among many, it stands out the moment when water was discovered on the moon.
Thus, it is the premise of lunar water is increasingly cemented by NASA scientists. In fact, recent research has been able to conclude that there are more deposits or amounts of water than it seems. But what is truly true and what is not?
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What is really known about water on the moon? All background exposed!
For some time now, there has always been the notion that the presence of water on the moon could not be possible. In the first place, because the vital liquid can't stay in its primordial form on the surface of the moon. And, I second because the water vapor that can result from this calculation is quickly decomposed by the solar climate.
However, the scientific community has established that as long as water is preserved in its solid form, there is hope. Being contained in ice, the water could withstand the extreme conditions of the satellite's surface. Specifically, it is believed to be stored within its craters as such.
Source: National Geographic
To explain this fact, there are certain chemical conditions related to the composition of water that are combined with lunar chemistry. In this way, it is able to subsist, absorbing itself towards its depths or its craters in general.
The water on the moon has been a constantly studied fact since 1974. It was not until 2018, where, after different space missions, the presence of ice on the ends of the moon was finally bought.
Having discovered this find, It has represented a great achievement for humanity, for the sake of finding another habitable terrain besides the human planet. The moon now qualifies as one of those potential destinations, which, in the not too distant future, would serve to host terrestrial civilizations.
lunar space missions. How was it proven that there is water on the moon?
Scientists from all over the world and not just NASA, since the last century, have been determined to prove that there is water on the moon. However, the hypotheses that were promulgated at that time were not totally true or lacked arguments.
In addition, with the launch of the first space probe of the Soviet Union in the 1974 year, excellent results were not obtained. Even so, a glimmer of hope managed to be seen, since, at least he managed to demonstrate that not all the surface was devoid of water.
Indeed, the mission brought with it a fact that was encouraging, even if it was negligible. As little as a tenth of a percent, he was able to establish that there is water on the moon. This anecdote was the first step for something bigger in the future to come and so it was. Over time, new and improved space missions were launched to the moon.
Even not only the same probes have corroborated this fact, but observation through a telescope of water on the moon. In that sense, it is worth highlighting everything that is known about these experiments.
The Indian Mission, Chandrayaan-1
In October 2008, seeking to further investigate the presence of water on the moon, the Indian Space Research Agency led the charge. They were the ones who made the Chandrayaan-1 probe, destined to study the lunar surface. However, she was never totally alone in the maneuver, receiving help from both NASA and the European Space Agency.
It was in office until August of the following year, being in 2009, when it finally ceased operations. During the time that she remained active, typographed the lunar surface in three dimensions, including the presence of ice in it.
The precise lunar observation satellite, LCROSS
LCROSS is the abbreviation for the name of the most accurate lunar observation satellite built by NASA. Its destination was reached in October 2009, with the sole and exclusive purpose of determining once and for all, the presence of water. Although at first the landing was cumbersome, it managed to adapt to the lunar conditions.
This risky bet of NASA, sought to clarify completely, the presence or not of water at the poles of the moon. If an excellent result was achieved, it would be a gigantic step towards the return of man to the moon in the future.
And, indeed, it was, the satellite managed to detail more than 100kg of water in the material analyzed from the lunar surface. In addition, since only a part of the moon was observed, it was concluded that there could be tons of stored water.
The SOFIA observatory and its support for research
On board an incredible Boeing 747SP flying over the Earth's atmosphere, SOFIA has been able to visualize water on the moon. Using its powerful laser or infrared, it has been found that the presence of the vital liquid, it is even present on the light side of the satellite.
Source: National Geographic
October 2020 was the date on which this spectacular work of engineering and astronomy detected molecular water on the moon. Through this instrument, the most recent sighting of the presence of water on the satellite was consolidated.
Now that there is water on the moon... What does it mean for humanity?
- Although there is water on the moon, it has not yet been shown that it can be exploited Or even consumed. However, various studies suggest that, due to its high level of surface seepage, it is very likely.
- The presence of the vital liquid on the lunar surface makes it possible to think of future space fields on the satellite. The scientific community even touts that it would be easier to launch a rocket from the moon than from Earth.
- In the same way, thanks to the fact that there is water on the moon, now we have more knowledge about this liquid In the universe. At present, it is known that its formation was not a unique process on Earth, but in various parts of the cosmos.